Also! I’ve put together an Allusionist print-at-home puzzle book, featuring a wordsearch, crossword, some jollity with portmanteaus, eponyms and scandals ending in -gate. It’s available exclusively if you donate any amount to Radiotopia’s 2018 fundraiser from now until it ends on 21 December 2018. Let me reiterate: ANY amount, from $1 to $∞! Head to http://radiotopia.fm to get your puzzles.

Let me know how you fare in the quiz and puzzles at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The show will be back on 23 January 2019. For all Allusionist episodes, extra material, transcripts, event listings etc, visit http://theallusionist.org.

The Allusionist is a member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear all the shows at http://radiotopia.fm – and if you can afford to help our shows keep going, become a donor in our 2018 fundraiser at https://www.radiotopia.fm/donate-2018z.

]]>For a bit of fun to celebrate Radiotopia’s 2018 fundraiser, this episode is a wordy quiz for you to play along with as you listen. Get a pen and paper, or fill in your answers online at http://theallusionist.org/2018quiz. Also!
Also! I’ve put together an Allusionist print-at-home puzzle book, featuring a wordsearch, crossword, some jollity with portmanteaus, eponyms and scandals ending in -gate. It’s available exclusively if you donate any amount to Radiotopia’s 2018 fundraiser from now until it ends on 21 December 2018. Let me reiterate: ANY amount, from $1 to $∞! Head to http://radiotopia.fm to get your puzzles.
Let me know how you fare in the quiz and puzzles at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The show will be back on 23 January 2019. For all Allusionist episodes, extra material, transcripts, event listings etc, visit http://theallusionist.org.
The Allusionist is a member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear all the shows at http://radiotopia.fm – and if you can afford to help our shows keep going, become a donor in our 2018 fundraiser at https://www.radiotopia.fm/donate-2018z.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean16:5891. Bonus 2018http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/12/bonus2018/
Sun, 16 Dec 2018 00:27:49 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=724http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/12/bonus2018/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/12/bonus2018/feed/0Throughout the year, the people who appear on the Allusionist tell me a lot of interesting stuff. Not all of which is relevant to the episode they initially appeared in, so I stash it away in preparation for this moment: the annual bonus episode! Get ready for gory 19th century London slang, the rise and … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/12/bonus2018/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">91. Bonus 2018</span></a>Throughout the year, the people who appear on the Allusionist tell me a lot of interesting stuff. Not all of which is relevant to the episode they initially appeared in, so I stash it away in preparation for this moment: the annual bonus episode! Get ready for gory 19th century London slang, the rise and fall of superhero capes, the post-WW1 trend for nudism, and more.

Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/bonus2018.

There is one swear in this episode.

The Allusionist is a member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear all the shows at http://radiotopia.fm – and if you can afford to help our shows keep going, become a donor in our 2018 fundraiser at https://www.radiotopia.fm/donate-2018z.

The Allusionist’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow. And come to see the debut performance of the brand new Allusionist 2019 live show at SF Sketchfest, 7.30pm 25 January! Tickets are on sale now: https://tinyurl.com/allusionistSFsketchfest2019

Thanks to today’s sponsors:
SQUARESPACE. Design and run a website with ease using Squarespace. Go to squarespace.com/allusion for a free trial, and for 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain, use the code ALLUSION.
MYTHOLOGIES. Subscribe to the new Mythologies podcast from Parcast in your podblaster of choice, or find it at parcast.com/mythology.

]]>Throughout the year, the people who appear on the Allusionist tell me a lot of interesting stuff. Not all of which is relevant to the episode they initially appeared in, so I stash it away in preparation for this moment: the annual bonus episode!
Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/bonus2018.
There is one swear in this episode.
The Allusionist is a member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear all the shows at http://radiotopia.fm – and if you can afford to help our shows keep going, become a donor in our 2018 fundraiser at https://www.radiotopia.fm/donate-2018z.
The Allusionist’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow. And come to see the debut performance of the brand new Allusionist 2019 live show at SF Sketchfest, 7.30pm 25 January! Tickets are on sale now: https://tinyurl.com/allusionistSFsketchfest2019
Thanks to today’s sponsors:

SQUARESPACE. Design and run a website with ease using Squarespace. Go to squarespace.com/allusion for a free trial, and for 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain, use the code ALLUSION.

MYTHOLOGIES. Subscribe to the new Mythologies podcast from Parcast in your podblaster of choice, or find it at parcast.com/mythology.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean20:3490. Dear Santahttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/11/dear-santa/
Fri, 30 Nov 2018 20:34:50 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=716http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/11/dear-santa/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/11/dear-santa/feed/0Jim Glaub and Dylan Parker didn’t think too much of it when, every year, a few letters were delivered to their New York apartment addressed to Santa. But then one year, 400 letters arrived. And they decided they had to answer them. Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/dear-santa, and visit http://miracleon22ndstreet.com to learn … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/11/dear-santa/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">90. Dear Santa</span></a>Jim Glaub and Dylan Parker didn’t think too much of it when, every year, a few letters were delivered to their New York apartment addressed to Santa.

But then one year, 400 letters arrived. And they decided they had to answer them.

Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/dear-santa, and visit http://miracleon22ndstreet.com to learn more about the nonprofit Jim and Dylan now run, donate, and get involved.

The Allusionist is a member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear all the shows at http://radiotopia.fm – and if you can afford to help our shows keep going, become a donor in our 2018 fundraiser at https://www.radiotopia.fm/donate-2018z.

The Allusionist’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow. And come to see the debut performance of the brand new Allusionist 2019 live show at SF Sketchfest, 7.30pm 25 January! Tickets are on sale now: https://tinyurl.com/allusionistSFsketchfest2019

Today’s episode is sponsored by Care/Of, a monthly subscription service that delivers personalised vitamin packs to your door. It’s like an advent calendar full of health supplements! For 25% off your first month of personalised Care/of vitamins, visit TakeCareOf.com and enter the discount code ALLUSIONIST.

]]>Jim Glaub and Dylan Parker didn’t think too much of it when, every year, a few letters were delivered to their New York apartment addressed to Santa. But then one year, 400 letters arrived. And they decided they had to answer them.
But then one year, 400 letters arrived. And they decided they had to answer them.
Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/dear-santa, and visit http://miracleon22ndstreet.com to learn more about the nonprofit Jim and Dylan now run, donate, and get involved.
The Allusionist is a member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear all the shows at http://radiotopia.fm – and if you can afford to help our shows keep going, become a donor in our 2018 fundraiser at https://www.radiotopia.fm/donate-2018z.
The Allusionist’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow. And come to see the debut performance of the brand new Allusionist 2019 live show at SF Sketchfest, 7.30pm 25 January! Tickets are on sale now: https://tinyurl.com/allusionistSFsketchfest2019
Today’s episode is sponsored by Care/Of, a monthly subscription service that delivers personalised vitamin packs to your door. It’s like an advent calendar full of health supplements! For 25% off your first month of personalised Care/of vitamins, visit TakeCareOf.com and enter the discount code ALLUSIONIST. ]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean21:3989. WPMhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/11/wpm/
Sat, 17 Nov 2018 18:30:06 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=709http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/11/wpm/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/11/wpm/feed/0This is a story of feats of speed and endurance, of record-breakers, of champions… Typing champions. Recorded live at the Hot Docs Podcast Festival in the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema in Toronto on 4 November 2018, WPM is performed by me and Martin Austwick. Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/wpm. **There is … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/11/wpm/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">89. WPM</span></a>This is a story of feats of speed and endurance, of record-breakers, of champions… Typing champions.

Recorded live at the Hot Docs Podcast Festival in the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema in Toronto on 4 November 2018, WPM is performed by me and Martin Austwick. Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/wpm.

**There is one swear word in this episode. See if you can spot it.**

Get very cute T-shirts, totes and onesies with an exclusive typing artwork by Eleni Kalorkoti at http://theallusionist.org/merch.

The Allusionist’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear all the shows at http://radiotopia.fm.

Thanks to today’s sponsors:
1. OXFORD GAMES makes games, word-based and not, which are great fun to play at all ages. Allusionist listeners get 20% off purchases at oxfordgames.co.uk with the discount code ALL20.
2. BABBEL is the number 1 selling language learning app in the world, with courses in 14 different languages from beginner to advanced levels. You can even give Babbel courses as gifts! Go to babbel.com and use the offer code ALLUSION to get 50% off your first three months.

]]>This is a story of feats of speed and endurance, of record-breakers, of champions… Typing champions. Recorded live at the Hot Docs Podcast Festival in the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema in Toronto on 4 November 2018,
Recorded live at the Hot Docs Podcast Festival in the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema in Toronto on 4 November 2018, WPM is performed by me and Martin Austwick. Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/wpm.
**There is one swear word in this episode. See if you can spot it.**
Get very cute T-shirts, totes and onesies with an exclusive typing artwork by Eleni Kalorkoti at http://theallusionist.org/merch.
The Allusionist’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear all the shows at http://radiotopia.fm.
Thanks to today’s sponsors:

1. OXFORD GAMES makes games, word-based and not, which are great fun to play at all ages. Allusionist listeners get 20% off purchases at oxfordgames.co.uk with the discount code ALL20.

2. BABBEL is the number 1 selling language learning app in the world, with courses in 14 different languages from beginner to advanced levels. You can even give Babbel courses as gifts! Go to babbel.com and use the offer code ALLUSION to get 50% off your first three months.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean19:2888. Name Changershttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/11/name-changers/
Sun, 04 Nov 2018 14:39:13 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=704http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/11/name-changers/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/11/name-changers/feed/0Why did you change your name? And why did you choose the name you chose? Listeners answer these two questions. Hear their stories of gender identity, family fallouts, marriages, divorces, doxxing, cults, and…just not liking your given name very much. Find more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/name-changers. This episode is part of Name Season here … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/11/name-changers/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">88. Name Changers</span></a>Why did you change your name? And why did you choose the name you chose?

Listeners answer these two questions. Hear their stories of gender identity, family fallouts, marriages, divorces, doxxing, cults, and…just not liking your given name very much.

Find more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/name-changers.
This episode is part of Name Season here at the Allusionist, along with episode 83. Yes, As In, about having a name that is more usually a noun or adjective; 86. Name Therapy, about the issues people face with their names; and 87. Name v. Law, about the Icelandic Naming Committee and a name change that took 25 years.

The Allusionist live tour is ON NOW, at cities in the US and Canada during October and November 2018: show listings are at http://theallusionist.org/events.

The Allusionist’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear all the shows at http://radiotopia.fm.

Thanks to today’s sponsors:
SQUARESPACE. Design your website at squarespace.com/allusion, and use the offer code ALLUSION to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.
BOMBAS. Shop for expertly engineered socks at bombas.com/allusionist and save 20% by entering the offer ALLUSIONIST in the checkout code space.

]]>Why did you change your name? And why did you choose the name you chose? Listeners answer these two questions. Hear their stories of gender identity, family fallouts, marriages, divorces, doxxing, cults, and…just not liking your given name very much.
Listeners answer these two questions. Hear their stories of gender identity, family fallouts, marriages, divorces, doxxing, cults, and…just not liking your given name very much.
Find more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/name-changers.

This episode is part of Name Season here at the Allusionist, along with episode 83. Yes, As In, about having a name that is more usually a noun or adjective; 86. Name Therapy, about the issues people face with their names; and 87. Name v. Law, about the Icelandic Naming Committee and a name change that took 25 years.
The Allusionist live tour is ON NOW, at cities in the US and Canada during October and November 2018: show listings are at http://theallusionist.org/events.
The Allusionist’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear all the shows at http://radiotopia.fm.
Thanks to today’s sponsors:

SQUARESPACE. Design your website at squarespace.com/allusion, and use the offer code ALLUSION to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

BOMBAS. Shop for expertly engineered socks at bombas.com/allusionist and save 20% by entering the offer ALLUSIONIST in the checkout code space.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean29:4287. Name v. Lawhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/10/icelandic-names/
Mon, 22 Oct 2018 02:23:46 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=697http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/10/icelandic-names/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/10/icelandic-names/feed/0Iceland has quite exacting laws about what its citizens can be named, and only around 4,000 names are on the officially approved list. If you want a name that deviates from that list, you have to send an application to the Icelandic Naming Committee, whose three members will decide whether or not you’re allowed it. … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/10/icelandic-names/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">87. Name v. Law</span></a>Iceland has quite exacting laws about what its citizens can be named, and only around 4,000 names are on the officially approved list. If you want a name that deviates from that list, you have to send an application to the Icelandic Naming Committee, whose three members will decide whether or not you’re allowed it. And if they say you’re not…you might have to take things pretty far.

There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/icelandic-names.

The Allusionist live tour is ON NOW, at cities in the US and Canada during October and November 2018: show listings are at http://theallusionist.org/events.

The Allusionist’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear all the shows at http://radiotopia.fm.

]]>Iceland has quite exacting laws about what its citizens can be named, and only around 4,000 names are on the officially approved list. If you want a name that deviates from that list, you have to send an application to the Icelandic Naming Committee,
There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/icelandic-names.
The Allusionist live tour is ON NOW, at cities in the US and Canada during October and November 2018: show listings are at http://theallusionist.org/events.
The Allusionist’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear all the shows at http://radiotopia.fm.
Thanks to today’s sponsor, Babbel. Learn fourteen languages in quick, fun and interactive lessons. Try Babbel for free via their app or babbel.com. ]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean32:3086. Name Therapyhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/10/name-therapy/
Mon, 08 Oct 2018 17:27:59 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=691http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/10/name-therapy/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/10/name-therapy/feed/0“It’s the word that you use the most often and the soonest to describe yourself, and yet nobody’s really ever talked about how it kind of makes me feel like this.” Until Duana Taha, who, after a lifetime of feelings about her own unique name, became the Name Therapist. Duana offers advice on how to … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/10/name-therapy/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">86. Name Therapy</span></a>“It’s the word that you use the most often and the soonest to describe yourself, and yet nobody’s really ever talked about how it kind of makes me feel like this.” Until Duana Taha, who, after a lifetime of feelings about her own unique name, became the Name Therapist.

Duana offers advice on how to name your baby/future adult, so their name works shouted across a playground, whispered into an ear, scribbled on a coffee cup. She also deals with your concerns about being named after a relative or parent’s ex, having a name that elicits playground taunts, or doesn’t describe you as an individual at all.

Find more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/name-therapy.

The Allusionist live tour is ON NOW, at cities in the US and Canada during October and November 2018: show listings are at http://theallusionist.org/events.

The Allusionist’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear all the shows at http://radiotopia.fm.

Thanks to today’s sponsors:
SQUARESPACE. Design your website at squarespace.com/allusion, and use the offer code ALLUSION to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.
BOMBAS. Shop for expertly engineered socks at bombas.com/allusionist and save 20% by entering the offer ALLUSIONIST in the checkout code space.

]]>“It’s the word that you use the most often and the soonest to describe yourself, and yet nobody’s really ever talked about how it kind of makes me feel like this.” Until Duana Taha, who, after a lifetime of feelings about her own unique name,
Duana offers advice on how to name your baby/future adult, so their name works shouted across a playground, whispered into an ear, scribbled on a coffee cup. She also deals with your concerns about being named after a relative or parent’s ex, having a name that elicits playground taunts, or doesn’t describe you as an individual at all.
Find more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/name-therapy.
The Allusionist live tour is ON NOW, at cities in the US and Canada during October and November 2018: show listings are at http://theallusionist.org/events.
The Allusionist’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear all the shows at http://radiotopia.fm.
Thanks to today’s sponsors:

SQUARESPACE. Design your website at squarespace.com/allusion, and use the offer code ALLUSION to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

BOMBAS. Shop for expertly engineered socks at bombas.com/allusionist and save 20% by entering the offer ALLUSIONIST in the checkout code space.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean29:5285. Skin Storyhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/09/skin-story/
Sun, 23 Sep 2018 15:43:33 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=686http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/09/skin-story/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/09/skin-story/feed/0“I wanted a story that actually lives, and actually dies, and disappears.” In 2003, artist and author Shelley Jackson started the Skin Project: a story printed, word by word, as tattoos on volunteers. https://ineradicablestain.com/skindex.html Find more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/skin-story. The Allusionist live tour comes to the US, Canada, and Ireland during autumn 2018: … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/09/skin-story/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">85. Skin Story</span></a>“I wanted a story that actually lives, and actually dies, and disappears.”

In 2003, artist and author Shelley Jackson started the Skin Project: a story printed, word by word, as tattoos on volunteers. https://ineradicablestain.com/skindex.html

Find more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/skin-story.

The Allusionist live tour comes to the US, Canada, and Ireland during autumn 2018: show listings are at http://theallusionist.org/events.

The Allusionist’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear all the shows at http://radiotopia.fm.

This episode is sponsored by the sleep brand Casper. Get $50 towards select mattresses by going to Casper.com/allusionist and using the promo code ALLUSIONIST at checkout.

]]>“I wanted a story that actually lives, and actually dies, and disappears.” In 2003, artist and author Shelley Jackson started the Skin Project: a story printed, word by word, as tattoos on volunteers. https://ineradicablestain.com/skindex.
In 2003, artist and author Shelley Jackson started the Skin Project: a story printed, word by word, as tattoos on volunteers. https://ineradicablestain.com/skindex.html
Find more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/skin-story.
The Allusionist live tour comes to the US, Canada, and Ireland during autumn 2018: show listings are at http://theallusionist.org/events.
The Allusionist’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear all the shows at http://radiotopia.fm.
This episode is sponsored by the sleep brand Casper. Get $50 towards select mattresses by going to Casper.com/allusionist and using the promo code ALLUSIONIST at checkout.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean20:2584. Trammelshttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/09/trammels/
Sat, 08 Sep 2018 16:53:24 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=680http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/09/trammels/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/09/trammels/feed/0Why would you write books or poems or plays with only one vowel? Or in palindromes? Or only using the example sentences in dictionaries? Sometimes you need to force yourself to jump a few hurdles (and perhaps the rest of the obstacle course) before your creativity will be unleashed. Find more about this episode at … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/09/trammels/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">84. Trammels</span></a>Why would you write books or poems or plays with only one vowel? Or in palindromes? Or only using the example sentences in dictionaries? Sometimes you need to force yourself to jump a few hurdles (and perhaps the rest of the obstacle course) before your creativity will be unleashed.

Find more about this episode at theallusionist.org/trammels. Jez Burrows is the author of the book Dictionary Stories, which is out now; find his work at jezburrows.com. Ross Sutherland makes the podcast Imaginary Advice; find him at rosssutherland.co.uk.

The Allusionist live tour comes to the US, Canada, Britain and Ireland during autumn 2018: show listings are at http://theallusionist.org/events.

The Allusionist’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear all the shows at http://radiotopia.fm.

Thanks to today’s sponsors:
SQUARESPACE. Design your website at squarespace.com/allusion, and use the offer code ALLUSION to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.
BOMBAS. Shop for expertly engineered socks at bombas.com/allusionist and save 20% by entering the offer ALLUSIONIST in the checkout code space.

]]>Why would you write books or poems or plays with only one vowel? Or in palindromes? Or only using the example sentences in dictionaries? Sometimes you need to force yourself to jump a few hurdles (and perhaps the rest of the obstacle course) before you...
Find more about this episode at theallusionist.org/trammels. Jez Burrows is the author of the book Dictionary Stories, which is out now; find his work at jezburrows.com. Ross Sutherland makes the podcast Imaginary Advice; find him at rosssutherland.co.uk.
The Allusionist live tour comes to the US, Canada, Britain and Ireland during autumn 2018: show listings are at http://theallusionist.org/events.
The Allusionist’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear all the shows at http://radiotopia.fm.
Thanks to today’s sponsors:

SQUARESPACE. Design your website at squarespace.com/allusion, and use the offer code ALLUSION to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

BOMBAS. Shop for expertly engineered socks at bombas.com/allusionist and save 20% by entering the offer ALLUSIONIST in the checkout code space.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean22:4983. Yes, As Inhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/08/nounnames/
Sun, 26 Aug 2018 23:39:45 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=675http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/08/nounnames/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/08/nounnames/feed/0“Really? As in the animal/foodstuff/music genre?” “Is that a stripper name?” “What were your parents thinking?” When your name is a word that is more usually a noun or adjective than a human moniker, you hear the same questions a lot. But there’s a story in every name, and yours is probably a more interesting story … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/08/nounnames/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">83. Yes, As In</span></a>“Really? As in the animal/foodstuff/music genre?”
“Is that a stripper name?”
“What were your parents thinking?”

When your name is a word that is more usually a noun or adjective than a human moniker, you hear the same questions a lot. But there’s a story in every name, and yours is probably a more interesting story than most.

Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/nounnames. WARNING: there are a few swears in it. (But none of the people have swear names, thankfully.)

The Allusionist live tour comes to the US, Canada, Britain and Ireland during autumn 2018: show listings are at http://theallusionist.org/events.

The Allusionist’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear all the shows at http://radiotopia.fm.

Thanks to Babbel for sponsoring this episode. Try their language-learning courses for free at babbel.com.

]]>“Really? As in the animal/foodstuff/music genre?” “Is that a stripper name?” “What were your parents thinking?” When your name is a word that is more usually a noun or adjective than a human moniker, you hear the same questions a lot.
“Is that a stripper name?”

“What were your parents thinking?”
When your name is a word that is more usually a noun or adjective than a human moniker, you hear the same questions a lot. But there’s a story in every name, and yours is probably a more interesting story than most.
Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/nounnames. WARNING: there are a few swears in it. (But none of the people have swear names, thankfully.)
The Allusionist live tour comes to the US, Canada, Britain and Ireland during autumn 2018: show listings are at http://theallusionist.org/events.
The Allusionist’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear all the shows at http://radiotopia.fm.
Thanks to Babbel for sponsoring this episode. Try their language-learning courses for free at babbel.com.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiayes28:5782. A Novel Remedyhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/08/convalescence/
Mon, 13 Aug 2018 01:01:08 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=670http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/08/convalescence/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/08/convalescence/feed/0When you’re feeling unwell, what’s the book you read to make yourself feel better? And why does it work? Clinical psychologist Jane Gregory explains why she sometimes prescribes novel-reading to her patients; and academic Guy Cuthbertson tells how post-WW1 Britain was soothed by Agatha Christie. Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/convalescence. The Allusionist … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/08/convalescence/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">82. A Novel Remedy</span></a>When you’re feeling unwell, what’s the book you read to make yourself feel better? And why does it work? Clinical psychologist Jane Gregory explains why she sometimes prescribes novel-reading to her patients; and academic Guy Cuthbertson tells how post-WW1 Britain was soothed by Agatha Christie.

Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/convalescence.

The Allusionist live tour comes to the US, Canada, Britain and Ireland during autumn 2018: live show listings are at http://theallusionist.org/events. If your town is not listed, check back soon, because more gigs will soon be added.

The Allusionist’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear all the shows at http://radiotopia.fm.

Thanks to today’s sponsors, Squarespace and Audible.
Design your own website using Squarespace: try it out at squarespace.com/allusion, then use the offer code ALLUSION for a 10% discount off your first purchase of a website or domain.
Audible has a huge library of audiobooks, including many classics of convalescence literature. Listeners in the USA can get a free audiobook by taking out a thirty-day trial at audible.com/allusionist, or by texting ALLUSIONIST to 500500.

]]>When you’re feeling unwell, what’s the book you read to make yourself feel better? And why does it work? Clinical psychologist Jane Gregory explains why she sometimes prescribes novel-reading to her patients; and academic Guy Cuthbertson tells how post...
Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/convalescence.
The Allusionist live tour comes to the US, Canada, Britain and Ireland during autumn 2018: live show listings are at http://theallusionist.org/events. If your town is not listed, check back soon, because more gigs will soon be added.
The Allusionist’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear all the shows at http://radiotopia.fm.
Thanks to today’s sponsors, Squarespace and Audible.

Design your own website using Squarespace: try it out at squarespace.com/allusion, then use the offer code ALLUSION for a 10% discount off your first purchase of a website or domain.

Audible has a huge library of audiobooks, including many classics of convalescence literature. Listeners in the USA can get a free audiobook by taking out a thirty-day trial at audible.com/allusionist, or by texting ALLUSIONIST to 500500.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean24:5281. Shark Weekhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/07/shark-week/
Sat, 28 Jul 2018 02:08:18 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=663http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/07/shark-week/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/07/shark-week/feed/0Today, we’re dipping into the Allusionist mailbag full of listeners’ linguistic requests, with the help of special guest Hrishikesh Hirway of Song Exploder and The West Wing Weekly podcasts. What is the expression ‘beyond the pale’ on about? How do you express the absence of feeling? Does ‘testify’ have anything to do with testicles? Do avocados … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/07/shark-week/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">81. Shark Week</span></a>Today, we’re dipping into the Allusionist mailbag full of listeners’ linguistic requests, with the help of special guest Hrishikesh Hirway of Song Exploder and The West Wing Weekly podcasts.

What is the expression ‘beyond the pale’ on about? How do you express the absence of feeling? Does ‘testify’ have anything to do with testicles? Do avocados have anything to do with testicles? How does the phrase “It’s all Greek to me” relate to food styling? Can you have a caper with capers? Are sharks misunderstood, etymologically and morally? And finally: where do allusions come from?

Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/shark-week.

The Allusionist live tour comes to the US, Canada, Britain and Ireland during late 2018: live show listings are at http://theallusionist.org/events. If your town is not listed, check back soon, because more gigs will soon be added!

The Allusionist’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear all the shows at http://radiotopia.fm.

Thanks to today’s sponsors, Squarespace and Babbel.
Design your own website using Squarespace: try it out at squarespace.com/allusion, then use the offer code ALLUSION for a 10% discount off your first purchase of a website or domain.
You can learn fourteen languages through Babbel. To get 50% off your first 3 months of Babbel, use the code ALLUSION when you go to babbel.com/allusion.

]]>Today, we’re dipping into the Allusionist mailbag full of listeners’ linguistic requests, with the help of special guest Hrishikesh Hirway of Song Exploder and The West Wing Weekly podcasts. What is the expression ‘beyond the pale’ on about?
What is the expression ‘beyond the pale’ on about? How do you express the absence of feeling? Does ‘testify’ have anything to do with testicles? Do avocados have anything to do with testicles? How does the phrase “It’s all Greek to me” relate to food styling? Can you have a caper with capers? Are sharks misunderstood, etymologically and morally? And finally: where do allusions come from?
Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/shark-week.
The Allusionist live tour comes to the US, Canada, Britain and Ireland during late 2018: live show listings are at http://theallusionist.org/events. If your town is not listed, check back soon, because more gigs will soon be added!
The Allusionist’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear all the shows at http://radiotopia.fm.
Thanks to today’s sponsors, Squarespace and Babbel.

Design your own website using Squarespace: try it out at squarespace.com/allusion, then use the offer code ALLUSION for a 10% discount off your first purchase of a website or domain.

You can learn fourteen languages through Babbel. To get 50% off your first 3 months of Babbel, use the code ALLUSION when you go to babbel.com/allusion.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean27:41Imaginary Advice: S.E.I.N.F.E.L.D.http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/06/imaginary-advice-seinfeld/
Fri, 29 Jun 2018 11:14:36 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=656http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/06/imaginary-advice-seinfeld/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/06/imaginary-advice-seinfeld/feed/0Hello! I’m currently in hospital so am having to take a little time off work. Therefore, instead of a new Allusionist episode today, here’s my favourite audio piece I’ve heard this year: ‘S.E.I.N.F.E.L.D.’ from Ross Sutherland’s podcast Imaginary Advice. NB: the episode contains a couple of Strong Terms. Hear more Imaginary Advice episodes – some of my favourites … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/06/imaginary-advice-seinfeld/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Imaginary Advice: S.E.I.N.F.E.L.D.</span></a>Hello! I’m currently in hospital so am having to take a little time off work. Therefore, instead of a new Allusionist episode today, here’s my favourite audio piece I’ve heard this year: ‘S.E.I.N.F.E.L.D.’ from Ross Sutherland’s podcast Imaginary Advice.

NB: the episode contains a couple of Strong Terms.

Hear more Imaginary Advice episodes – some of my favourites are ‘Six House Parties’ and ‘Me Versus The Spar (parts 1-7)’ – and find the show’s live dates and Patreon, at imaginaryadvice.com.

The Allusionist will be recuperating for a bit, but should be back at the end of July. In the meantime, catch up on all the previous episodes and goad all your beloved friends and acquaintances to do likewise.

Thanks to Babbel for their support of the show. Get 50% off your first three months of Babbel’s language-learning apps by visiting babbel.com/allusionist and using the code ‘ALLUSION’.

]]>Hello! I’m currently in hospital so am having to take a little time off work. Therefore, instead of a new Allusionist episode today, here’s my favourite audio piece I’ve heard this year: ‘S.E.I.N.F.E.L.D.’ from Ross Sutherland’s podcast Imaginary Advic...
NB: the episode contains a couple of Strong Terms.
Hear more Imaginary Advice episodes – some of my favourites are ‘Six House Parties’ and ‘Me Versus The Spar (parts 1-7)’ – and find the show’s live dates and Patreon, at imaginaryadvice.com.
The Allusionist will be recuperating for a bit, but should be back at the end of July. In the meantime, catch up on all the previous episodes and goad all your beloved friends and acquaintances to do likewise.
Thanks to Babbel for their support of the show. Get 50% off your first three months of Babbel’s language-learning apps by visiting babbel.com/allusionist and using the code ‘ALLUSION’.]]>courtesy of Imaginary Advice by Ross Sutherlandclean27:4080. Warm Fronthttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/06/warm-front/
Sun, 17 Jun 2018 01:48:09 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=649http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/06/warm-front/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/06/warm-front/feed/0Today will be fine. But wait: fine as in ‘OK’, fine as in ‘really rather good’, or fine as in ‘no precipitation’? When you’re a TV weather forecaster, you have to deal with the mismatch of your specialist vocabulary with that of the meteorological laypeople watching – as well as cover all the weather across … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/06/warm-front/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">80. Warm Front</span></a>Today will be fine. But wait: fine as in ‘OK’, fine as in ‘really rather good’, or fine as in ‘no precipitation’? When you’re a TV weather forecaster, you have to deal with the mismatch of your specialist vocabulary with that of the meteorological laypeople watching – as well as cover all the weather across a whole country, translate conditions into something the viewer can identify with, and warn people about cyclones without making them too panicked. Or not panicked enough to take sensible cyclone precautions. Nate Byrne, who presents the weather for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s News Breakfast, breezes in to shower us with meteorological knowledge.

Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/warm-front.

See the Allusionist on stages in Australia and New Zealand in June and July 2018: live show listings are at http://theallusionist.org/events. Northern hemisphere-dwellers: check back soon, because more gigs are about to be added!

The Allusionist’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear all the shows at http://radiotopia.fm.

This episode is sponsored by SimpliSafe. Visit http://simplisafe.com/allusionist to learn about how SimpliSafe can protect your home.

]]>Today will be fine. But wait: fine as in ‘OK’, fine as in ‘really rather good’, or fine as in ‘no precipitation’? When you’re a TV weather forecaster, you have to deal with the mismatch of your specialist vocabulary with that of the meteorological layp...
Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/warm-front.
See the Allusionist on stages in Australia and New Zealand in June and July 2018: live show listings are at http://theallusionist.org/events. Northern hemisphere-dwellers: check back soon, because more gigs are about to be added!
The Allusionist’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear all the shows at http://radiotopia.fm.
This episode is sponsored by SimpliSafe. Visit http://simplisafe.com/allusionist to learn about how SimpliSafe can protect your home.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean18:3579. Queerhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/06/queer/
Sun, 03 Jun 2018 16:32:44 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=644http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/06/queer/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/06/queer/feed/0Strange or obtuse; a stinging homophobic slur; a radical political rejection of normativity; a broad term encompassing every and any variation on sexual orientation and gender identity: the word ‘queer’ has a multifarious past and complicated present. Tracing its movements are Kathy Tu and Tobin Low from Nancy podcast, Eric Marcus from Making Gay History, historian and author Amy Sueyoshi, and Jonathan … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/06/queer/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">79. Queer</span></a>Strange or obtuse; a stinging homophobic slur; a radical political rejection of normativity; a broad term encompassing every and any variation on sexual orientation and gender identity: the word ‘queer’ has a multifarious past and complicated present. Tracing its movements are Kathy Tu and Tobin Low from Nancy podcast, Eric Marcus from Making Gay History, historian and author Amy Sueyoshi, and Jonathan Van Ness from Queer Eye.

Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/queer. Content note: this episodes contains discussions of sexuality and sexual acts, as well as some problematic terms.

See the Allusionist live in Australia and New Zealand in the next month: show listings are at http://theallusionist.org/events

The Allusionist’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear all the shows at http://radiotopia.fm.

This episode is sponsored by Bombas and Babbel.
Get a 20% discount on Bombas’s expertly engineered socks by visiting http://bombas.com/allusionist and entering the offer ALLUSIONIST in the checkout code space.
There are fourteen languages you can learn via Babbel, the number 1 selling language app in the world. To get 50% off your first 3 months of Babbel, use the code ALLUSION when you go to babbel.com/allusion.

]]>Strange or obtuse; a stinging homophobic slur; a radical political rejection of normativity; a broad term encompassing every and any variation on sexual orientation and gender identity: the word ‘queer’ has a multifarious past and complicated present.
Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/queer. Content note: this episodes contains discussions of sexuality and sexual acts, as well as some problematic terms.
See the Allusionist live in Australia and New Zealand in the next month: show listings are at http://theallusionist.org/events
The Allusionist’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear all the shows at http://radiotopia.fm.
This episode is sponsored by Bombas and Babbel.

Get a 20% discount on Bombas’s expertly engineered socks by visiting http://bombas.com/allusionist and entering the offer ALLUSIONIST in the checkout code space.

There are fourteen languages you can learn via Babbel, the number 1 selling language app in the world. To get 50% off your first 3 months of Babbel, use the code ALLUSION when you go to babbel.com/allusion.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean28:3978. Oot in the Openhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/05/scots/
Mon, 21 May 2018 20:57:57 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=638http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/05/scots/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/05/scots/feed/0You are born and raised in a household speaking a language. Then you start going to school, and that language is banned. If you speak it, you’ll be punished physically or psychologically. Across your country, there are people like you who associate their first language with shame, or not even being a language at all. … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/05/scots/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">78. Oot in the Open</span></a>You are born and raised in a household speaking a language. Then you start going to school, and that language is banned. If you speak it, you’ll be punished physically or psychologically. Across your country, there are people like you who associate their first language with shame, or not even being a language at all. This is the predicament of the Scots language.

Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/scots.

I have several events coming up – in the next few weeks, the live Allusionist stage spectacular is hitting Australia and New Zealand. Check the listings at http://theallusionist.org/events

The Allusionist’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear all the shows at http://radiotopia.fm.

This episode is sponsored by Bombas and Babbel.
Get a 20% discount on Bombas’s expertly engineered socks by visiting http://bombas.com/allusionist and entering the offer ALLUSIONIST in the checkout code space.
There are fourteen languages you can learn via Babbel, the number 1 selling language app in the world. To get 50% off your first 3 months of Babbel, use the code ALLUSION when you go to babbel.com/allusion.

]]>You are born and raised in a household speaking a language. Then you start going to school, and that language is banned. If you speak it, you’ll be punished physically or psychologically. Across your country,
Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/scots.
I have several events coming up – in the next few weeks, the live Allusionist stage spectacular is hitting Australia and New Zealand. Check the listings at http://theallusionist.org/events
The Allusionist’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear all the shows at http://radiotopia.fm.
This episode is sponsored by Bombas and Babbel.

Get a 20% discount on Bombas’s expertly engineered socks by visiting http://bombas.com/allusionist and entering the offer ALLUSIONIST in the checkout code space.

There are fourteen languages you can learn via Babbel, the number 1 selling language app in the world. To get 50% off your first 3 months of Babbel, use the code ALLUSION when you go to babbel.com/allusion.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean26:2142+43. Survival: The Key rerunhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/05/survival-key/
Sat, 05 May 2018 02:35:15 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=631http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/05/survival-key/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/05/survival-key/feed/0To accompany the current Allusionist miniseries Survival, about minority languages facing suppression and extinction, we’re revisiting this double bill of The Key episodes about why languages die and how they can be resuscitated. The Rosetta Stone and its modern equivalent the Rosetta Disk preserve writing systems to be read by future generations. But how do … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/05/survival-key/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">42+43. Survival: The Key rerun</span></a>To accompany the current Allusionist miniseries Survival, about minority languages facing suppression and extinction, we’re revisiting this double bill of The Key episodes about why languages die and how they can be resuscitated. The Rosetta Stone and its modern equivalent the Rosetta Disk preserve writing systems to be read by future generations. But how do those generations decipher text that wasn’t written with the expectation of requiring decipherment?

Features mild scenes of linguistic apocalypse.

Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/survival-key.

The Allusionist’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear all the shows at http://radiotopia.fm.

I have several events coming up – live Allusionists and Bugles and the Radiotopia tour. Check the listings at http://theallusionist.org/events

This episode is sponsored by Babbel and Bombas.
Babbel offers interactive fun courses to learn 14 different languages. To get 50% off your first 3 months of Babbel, use the code ALLUSION when you go to babbel.com/allusion.
You can get a 20% discount on Bombas’s expertly engineered socks by visiting http://bombas.com/allusionist and entering the offer ALLUSIONIST in the checkout code space.

]]>To accompany the current Allusionist miniseries Survival, about minority languages facing suppression and extinction, we’re revisiting this double bill of The Key episodes about why languages die and how they can be resuscitated.
Features mild scenes of linguistic apocalypse.
Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/survival-key.
The Allusionist’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear all the shows at http://radiotopia.fm.
I have several events coming up – live Allusionists and Bugles and the Radiotopia tour. Check the listings at http://theallusionist.org/events
This episode is sponsored by Babbel and Bombas.

Babbel offers interactive fun courses to learn 14 different languages. To get 50% off your first 3 months of Babbel, use the code ALLUSION when you go to babbel.com/allusion.

You can get a 20% discount on Bombas’s expertly engineered socks by visiting http://bombas.com/allusionist and entering the offer ALLUSIONIST in the checkout code space.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean27:1077. Survival part 1: Second Homehttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/04/survival1/
Sat, 21 Apr 2018 03:55:10 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=623http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/04/survival1/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/04/survival1/feed/0There are two main places in the world where the Welsh language is spoken: Wales, and the Chubut Province in Patagonia. How did this ancient language take root in rural Argentina, 12,000km away from its home base? Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/survival1. The Allusionist’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/04/survival1/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">77. Survival part 1: Second Home</span></a>There are two main places in the world where the Welsh language is spoken: Wales, and the Chubut Province in Patagonia. How did this ancient language take root in rural Argentina, 12,000km away from its home base?

Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/survival1.

The Allusionist’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear all the shows at http://radiotopia.fm.

I have several events coming up – live Allusionists and Bugles and the Radiotopia tour. Check the listings at http://theallusionist.org/events

This episode is sponsored by Bombas. Get a 20% discount on their expertly engineered socks by visiting http://bombas.com/allusionist and entering the offer ALLUSIONIST in the checkout code space.

]]>There are two main places in the world where the Welsh language is spoken: Wales, and the Chubut Province in Patagonia. How did this ancient language take root in rural Argentina, 12,000km away from its home base?
Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/survival1.
The Allusionist’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear all the shows at http://radiotopia.fm.
I have several events coming up – live Allusionists and Bugles and the Radiotopia tour. Check the listings at http://theallusionist.org/events
This episode is sponsored by Bombas. Get a 20% discount on their expertly engineered socks by visiting http://bombas.com/allusionist and entering the offer ALLUSIONIST in the checkout code space.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean27:5976. Across the Pondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/04/across-the-pond/
Sat, 07 Apr 2018 00:28:22 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=616http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/04/across-the-pond/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/04/across-the-pond/feed/0Pavement/sidewalk; football/soccer; bum bag/fanny pack: we know that the English language is different in the UK and the USA. But why? Linguist Lynne Murphy points out the geographical, cultural and social influences that separate the common language. Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/across-the-pond. The Allusionist’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/04/across-the-pond/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">76. Across the Pond</span></a>Pavement/sidewalk; football/soccer; bum bag/fanny pack: we know that the English language is different in the UK and the USA. But why? Linguist Lynne Murphy points out the geographical, cultural and social influences that separate the common language.

Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/across-the-pond.

The Allusionist’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear all the shows at http://radiotopia.fm.

Radiotopia is going on tour! Join us in May at theatres in Atlanta, Durham, DC, Philly, NYC and Boston. Get your tickets at http://radiotopia.fm/live. You can also see the Allusionist live in Australia – http://theallusionist.org/events

Today’s sponsors are Squarespace and Babbel. Start your website at http://squarespace.com/allusion and to get a 10% discount off your first purchase of a website or domain, use the code ALLUSION.
Learn a new language with Babbel and get 50% off your first 3 months: use the code ALLUSION when you go to http://babbel.com/allusion.

]]>Pavement/sidewalk; football/soccer; bum bag/fanny pack: we know that the English language is different in the UK and the USA. But why? Linguist Lynne Murphy points out the geographical, cultural and social influences that separate the common language.
Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/across-the-pond.
The Allusionist’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear all the shows at http://radiotopia.fm.
Radiotopia is going on tour! Join us in May at theatres in Atlanta, Durham, DC, Philly, NYC and Boston. Get your tickets at http://radiotopia.fm/live. You can also see the Allusionist live in Australia – http://theallusionist.org/events
Today’s sponsors are Squarespace and Babbel. Start your website at http://squarespace.com/allusion and to get a 10% discount off your first purchase of a website or domain, use the code ALLUSION.

Learn a new language with Babbel and get 50% off your first 3 months: use the code ALLUSION when you go to http://babbel.com/allusion.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean25:4375. Ear Hustlinghttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/03/ear-hustling/
Fri, 23 Mar 2018 04:06:19 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=609http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/03/ear-hustling/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/03/ear-hustling/feed/0Today we’re going inside to open up the unofficial dictionary of San Quentin state prison, compiled by Earlonne Woods of Ear Hustle podcast. Content note: this episode contains some Adult Terms. Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/ear-hustling. The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/03/ear-hustling/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">75. Ear Hustling</span></a>Today we’re going inside to open up the unofficial dictionary of San Quentin state prison, compiled by Earlonne Woods of Ear Hustle podcast.

Content note: this episode contains some Adult Terms.

Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/ear-hustling.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves – such as Ear Hustle. Hear all the shows at http://radiotopia.fm.

The Allusionist’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

Radiotopia is going on tour! Join us in May at theatres in Atlanta, Durham, DC, Philly, NYC and Boston. Get your tickets at http://radiotopia.fm/live. You can also see the Allusionist live in Australia – http://theallusionist.org/events

Today’s episode is sponsored by Babbel. Learn a new language with 50% off your first 3 months: use the code ALLUSION when you go to babbel.com/allusion.

]]>Today we’re going inside to open up the unofficial dictionary of San Quentin state prison, compiled by Earlonne Woods of Ear Hustle podcast. Content note: this episode contains some Adult Terms. Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist...
Content note: this episode contains some Adult Terms.
Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/ear-hustling.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves – such as Ear Hustle. Hear all the shows at http://radiotopia.fm.
The Allusionist’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
Radiotopia is going on tour! Join us in May at theatres in Atlanta, Durham, DC, Philly, NYC and Boston. Get your tickets at http://radiotopia.fm/live. You can also see the Allusionist live in Australia – http://theallusionist.org/events
Today’s episode is sponsored by Babbel. Learn a new language with 50% off your first 3 months: use the code ALLUSION when you go to babbel.com/allusion.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiayes17:5374. Take A Swear Pillhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/03/swear-pill/
Fri, 09 Mar 2018 22:11:34 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=600http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/03/swear-pill/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/03/swear-pill/feed/0CONTENT WARNING: there is swearing in this episode. But the happy news is: swearing is good for you! Dr Emma Byrne, author of Swearing Is Good For You, explains how swearing can be beneficial to your physical health and emotional wellbeing, while Matt Fidler of Very Bad Words podcast gives some tips to ensure you … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/03/swear-pill/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">74. Take A Swear Pill</span></a>CONTENT WARNING: there is swearing in this episode. But the happy news is: swearing is good for you! Dr Emma Byrne, author of Swearing Is Good For You, explains how swearing can be beneficial to your physical health and emotional wellbeing, while Matt Fidler of Very Bad Words podcast gives some tips to ensure you swear properly to optimise the positive effects.

Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/swear-pill.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear them all at http://radiotopia.fm, and see several of us perform live in May on the Radiotopia East Coast Tour. Tickets are on sale now at http://radiotopia.fm/live.

Today’s sponsors are:
i. Squarespace: start building your website at http://squarespace.com, and when you sign up, use the offer code ALLUSION for 10% off your first purchase of your website or domain.
ii. Babbel, the world’s no.1 selling language learning app. To get 50% off your first 3 months of learning one of 14 languages, go to http://babbel.com/allusion and use the code ALLUSION.

The show’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

]]>CONTENT WARNING: there is swearing in this episode. But the happy news is: swearing is good for you! Dr Emma Byrne, author of Swearing Is Good For You, explains how swearing can be beneficial to your physical health and emotional wellbeing,
Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/swear-pill.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear them all at http://radiotopia.fm, and see several of us perform live in May on the Radiotopia East Coast Tour. Tickets are on sale now at http://radiotopia.fm/live.
Today’s sponsors are:

i. Squarespace: start building your website at http://squarespace.com, and when you sign up, use the offer code ALLUSION for 10% off your first purchase of your website or domain.

ii. Babbel, the world’s no.1 selling language learning app. To get 50% off your first 3 months of learning one of 14 languages, go to http://babbel.com/allusion and use the code ALLUSION.
The show’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiayes28:2373. Supername!http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/02/supername/
Sat, 24 Feb 2018 01:01:13 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=592http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/02/supername/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/02/supername/feed/0Up in the sky: look! It’s an adjective! It’s a noun! It’s…Adjectivenoun! Your friendly neighbourhood superheroes might have thrilling and varied powers and spandex garments, but the way their names are concocted have followed only a handful of formulae in the past 80 years, since Superman sent superheroes soaring. (Yes, alliteration is one such naming formula.) Glen Weldon … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/02/supername/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">73. Supername!</span></a>Up in the sky: look! It’s an adjective! It’s a noun! It’s…Adjectivenoun!

Your friendly neighbourhood superheroes might have thrilling and varied powers and spandex garments, but the way their names are concocted have followed only a handful of formulae in the past 80 years, since Superman sent superheroes soaring.

(Yes, alliteration is one such naming formula.)

Glen Weldon of Pop Culture Happy Hour traces the supername’s development from Adjective+Gender through Colour+Noun to Normal Name and Lone Noun.

Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/supername.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear them all at http://radiotopia.fm.

The show’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

This episode is sponsored by Audible – listeners in the US can get a free audiobook by taking out a trial membership at http://audible.com/allusionist or by texting 500-500.

Radiotopia is going on tour! Join us in May at theatres in Atlanta, Durham, DC, Philly, NYC and Boston. Get your tickets at http://radiotopia.fm/live.

]]>Up in the sky: look! It’s an adjective! It’s a noun! It’s…Adjectivenoun! Your friendly neighbourhood superheroes might have thrilling and varied powers and spandex garments, but the way their names are concocted have followed only a handful of formula...
Your friendly neighbourhood superheroes might have thrilling and varied powers and spandex garments, but the way their names are concocted have followed only a handful of formulae in the past 80 years, since Superman sent superheroes soaring.
(Yes, alliteration is one such naming formula.)
Glen Weldon of Pop Culture Happy Hour traces the supername’s development from Adjective+Gender through Colour+Noun to Normal Name and Lone Noun.
Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/supername.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear them all at http://radiotopia.fm.
The show’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
This episode is sponsored by Audible – listeners in the US can get a free audiobook by taking out a trial membership at http://audible.com/allusionist or by texting 500-500.
Radiotopia is going on tour! Join us in May at theatres in Atlanta, Durham, DC, Philly, NYC and Boston. Get your tickets at http://radiotopia.fm/live.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean21:4872. Heyhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/02/hey/
Fri, 09 Feb 2018 14:47:17 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=582http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/02/hey/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/02/hey/feed/0“Hey.” “Going to the supermarket, want me to get you anything?” “Puppies or ice cream?” “What’s your glasses prescription?” “I wanna ***** your *********.” If you’ve used a dating app, maybe you’ve received one of the above messages from a stranger, or sent them. Striking up an interaction with someone is a tricky business. Why … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/02/hey/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">72. Hey</span></a>“Hey.”
“Going to the supermarket, want me to get you anything?”
“Puppies or ice cream?”
“What’s your glasses prescription?”
“I wanna ***** your *********.”

If you’ve used a dating app, maybe you’ve received one of the above messages from a stranger, or sent them. Striking up an interaction with someone is a tricky business. Why Oh Why and Longest Shortest Time host Andrea Silenzi opens up her phone to analyse the kinds of opening messages people send on dating apps, and how easily they can land badly.

Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/hey, and hear Andrea hosting The Longest Shortest Time podcast on your podblasters of choice.

Content note: this episode contains a couple of instances of Adult Language and references to Adult Behaviours.

Today’s sponsors are Squarespace – try it out at http://squarespace.com, and when you sign up, use the offer code ALLUSION – and Inflection Point with Lauren Schiller which you can hear on all the podcatchers and at https://www.inflectionpointradio.org.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear them all at http://radiotopia.fm.

The show’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

]]>“Hey.” “Going to the supermarket, want me to get you anything?” “Puppies or ice cream?” “What’s your glasses prescription?” “I wanna ***** your *********.” If you’ve used a dating app, maybe you’ve received one of the above messages from a stranger,
“Going to the supermarket, want me to get you anything?”

“Puppies or ice cream?”

“What’s your glasses prescription?”

“I wanna ***** your *********.”
If you’ve used a dating app, maybe you’ve received one of the above messages from a stranger, or sent them. Striking up an interaction with someone is a tricky business. Why Oh Why and Longest Shortest Time host Andrea Silenzi opens up her phone to analyse the kinds of opening messages people send on dating apps, and how easily they can land badly.
Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/hey, and hear Andrea hosting The Longest Shortest Time podcast on your podblasters of choice.
Content note: this episode contains a couple of instances of Adult Language and references to Adult Behaviours.
Today’s sponsors are Squarespace – try it out at http://squarespace.com, and when you sign up, use the offer code ALLUSION – and Inflection Point with Lauren Schiller which you can hear on all the podcatchers and at https://www.inflectionpointradio.org.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear them all at http://radiotopia.fm.
The show’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiayes23:1171. Triumph/Trumpet/Top/Farthttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/01/trump/
Fri, 26 Jan 2018 20:57:04 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=570http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/01/trump/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2018/01/trump/feed/0It’s a year since Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 45th president of the United States. And in that year, he’s caused a lot of changes in the job of constitutional law professor Elizabeth Joh of TrumpConLaw podcast – in particular, one verb is now off limits. Plus: Paul Anthony Jones, aka etymologist extraordinaire Haggard … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2018/01/trump/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">71. Triumph/Trumpet/Top/Fart</span></a>It’s a year since Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 45th president of the United States. And in that year, he’s caused a lot of changes in the job of constitutional law professor Elizabeth Joh of TrumpConLaw podcast – in particular, one verb is now off limits.

Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/trump. Today’s sponsors are Squarespace – http://squarespace.com, offer code ALLUSION – and Audible – http://audible.com/allusionist.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear them all at http://radiotopia.fm.

The show’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

]]>It’s a year since Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 45th president of the United States. And in that year, he’s caused a lot of changes in the job of constitutional law professor Elizabeth Joh of TrumpConLaw podcast – in particular,
Plus: Paul Anthony Jones, aka etymologist extraordinaire Haggard Hawks, describes how politicians’ names work their way into our vocabularies.
Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/trump. Today’s sponsors are Squarespace – http://squarespace.com, offer code ALLUSION – and Audible – http://audible.com/allusionist.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear them all at http://radiotopia.fm.
The show’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean20:2370. Bonus 2017http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/12/bonus2017/
Sat, 23 Dec 2017 03:41:03 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=559http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/12/bonus2017/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/12/bonus2017/feed/0It’s the annual bonus episode. Throughout the year, the people who appear on the show tell me a lot of interesting stuff, not all of which is relevant to the episode they initially appeared in, so I stash it away in preparation for this moment. This year, hear about the history of roller skates, zazzification, … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/12/bonus2017/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">70. Bonus 2017</span></a>It’s the annual bonus episode. Throughout the year, the people who appear on the show tell me a lot of interesting stuff, not all of which is relevant to the episode they initially appeared in, so I stash it away in preparation for this moment. This year, hear about the history of roller skates, zazzification, giant origami, the heat death of the universe and more.

Find information about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/bonus2017.

Come to see the live Allusionist show at SF Sketchfest, 10pm 12 January at the Brava Theater in San Francisco. Tickets are on sale now at http://tinyurl.com/allusionistsfsketchfest2017.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear them at http://radiotopia.fm.

Thanks to Mailchimp for sponsoring this episode. http://mailchimp.com.

The show’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

]]>It’s the annual bonus episode. Throughout the year, the people who appear on the show tell me a lot of interesting stuff, not all of which is relevant to the episode they initially appeared in, so I stash it away in preparation for this moment.
Find information about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/bonus2017.
Come to see the live Allusionist show at SF Sketchfest, 10pm 12 January at the Brava Theater in San Francisco. Tickets are on sale now at http://tinyurl.com/allusionistsfsketchfest2017.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear them at http://radiotopia.fm.
Thanks to Mailchimp for sponsoring this episode. http://mailchimp.com.
The show’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean21:5569. How the Dickens stole Christmashttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/12/dickens-christmas/
Sat, 09 Dec 2017 13:26:34 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=554http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/12/dickens-christmas/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/12/dickens-christmas/feed/0Charles Dickens wrote about the plight of the impoverished and destitute members of British society. So how come his name is a synonym for rosy-cheeked, full-stomached, fattened-goose, hearty merry “God bless us every one” Christmas? Avery Trufelman and Katie Mingle of 99% Invisible report from the streets of Victorian London at the annual Dickens Christmas Fair … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/12/dickens-christmas/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">69. How the Dickens stole Christmas</span></a>Charles Dickens wrote about the plight of the impoverished and destitute members of British society. So how come his name is a synonym for rosy-cheeked, full-stomached, fattened-goose, hearty merry “God bless us every one” Christmas?

Avery Trufelman and Katie Mingle of 99% Invisible report from the streets of Victorian London at the annual Dickens Christmas Fair in Daly City, California, while historian Greg Jenner explains the origins of the festive traditions for which Dickens gets the credit, without even wanting the credit – in fact, his motivation for writing A Christmas Carol was far from a cash-in on Christmas.

Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/dickens-christmas.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear them at http://radiotopia.fm.

Come to see the live Allusionist show at SF Sketchfest, 10pm 12 January at the Brava Theater in San Francisco. Tickets are on sale now at http://tinyurl.com/allusionistsfsketchfest2017.

The show’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

]]>Charles Dickens wrote about the plight of the impoverished and destitute members of British society. So how come his name is a synonym for rosy-cheeked, full-stomached, fattened-goose, hearty merry “God bless us every one” Christmas?
Avery Trufelman and Katie Mingle of 99% Invisible report from the streets of Victorian London at the annual Dickens Christmas Fair in Daly City, California, while historian Greg Jenner explains the origins of the festive traditions for which Dickens gets the credit, without even wanting the credit – in fact, his motivation for writing A Christmas Carol was far from a cash-in on Christmas.
Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/dickens-christmas.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear them at http://radiotopia.fm.
Come to see the live Allusionist show at SF Sketchfest, 10pm 12 January at the Brava Theater in San Francisco. Tickets are on sale now at http://tinyurl.com/allusionistsfsketchfest2017.
The show’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean30:3568. Curse Souphttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/11/curse-soup/
Sat, 25 Nov 2017 03:38:24 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=545http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/11/curse-soup/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/11/curse-soup/feed/0Somebody has really ticked you off. You’re all steamed up inside and you want to vent that rage using words, but you don’t want to confront them directly because you’re either too polite or too cowardly. So do you: A. Subtweet them. B. With your finger, scrawl an insulting message into the dirt on their … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/11/curse-soup/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">68. Curse Soup</span></a>Somebody has really ticked you off. You’re all steamed up inside and you want to vent that rage using words, but you don’t want to confront them directly because you’re either too polite or too cowardly. So do you:
A. Subtweet them.
B. With your finger, scrawl an insulting message into the dirt on their car.
C. Get a small sheet of lead, scratch into it a message cursing your enemies, roll it up and throw it into your nearest sacred spring?

Oh, I forgot to mention that it’s 1700-2000 years ago and you’re living in the Ancient Roman Empire, so the answer is C.

Stephen Clews, the manager of the Roman baths at Bath, shows us the curses that were sloshing around in the waters for hundreds of years.

NB One category A and one category B swear appear in this episode.

Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/curse-tablets.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear them all at http://radiotopia.fm.

The show’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

]]>Somebody has really ticked you off. You’re all steamed up inside and you want to vent that rage using words, but you don’t want to confront them directly because you’re either too polite or too cowardly. So do you: A. Subtweet them. B.
A. Subtweet them.

B. With your finger, scrawl an insulting message into the dirt on their car.

C. Get a small sheet of lead, scratch into it a message cursing your enemies, roll it up and throw it into your nearest sacred spring?
Oh, I forgot to mention that it’s 1700-2000 years ago and you’re living in the Ancient Roman Empire, so the answer is C.
Stephen Clews, the manager of the Roman baths at Bath, shows us the curses that were sloshing around in the waters for hundreds of years.
NB One category A and one category B swear appear in this episode.
Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/curse-tablets.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Hear them all at http://radiotopia.fm.
The show’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiayes17:2667. Open Me part IIhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/11/open-me-2/
Fri, 10 Nov 2017 22:28:22 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=535http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/11/open-me-2/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/11/open-me-2/feed/0You’re holding a letter. What’s inside? A weather report from 5,000 miles away? Some devastating family history? A single word? A heartfelt dispatch from your past self that’s about to change the course of your life? Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/open-me-2. The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/11/open-me-2/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">67. Open Me part II</span></a>You’re holding a letter. What’s inside? A weather report from 5,000 miles away? Some devastating family history? A single word? A heartfelt dispatch from your past self that’s about to change the course of your life?

Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/open-me-2.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. It’s Radiotopia’s annual fundraiser: to keep our shows going, become a supporter (and get some excellent gifts!) at http://radiotopia.fm.

The show’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

]]>You’re holding a letter. What’s inside? A weather report from 5,000 miles away? Some devastating family history? A single word? A heartfelt dispatch from your past self that’s about to change the course of your life?
Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/open-me-2.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. It’s Radiotopia’s annual fundraiser: to keep our shows going, become a supporter (and get some excellent gifts!) at http://radiotopia.fm.
The show’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean30:1066. Open Me part Ihttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/10/open-me-1/
Fri, 27 Oct 2017 23:58:22 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=529http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/10/open-me-1/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/10/open-me-1/feed/0From Me To You’s Alison Hitchcock and Brian Greenley didn’t know each other well. But when Brian was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, Alison offered to write him letters. 100 letters later, their lives were changed. One of the newest members of Radiotopia is Ear Hustle, a podcast made inside San Quentin by and about … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/10/open-me-1/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">66. Open Me part I</span></a>From Me To You’s Alison Hitchcock and Brian Greenley didn’t know each other well. But when Brian was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, Alison offered to write him letters. 100 letters later, their lives were changed.

One of the newest members of Radiotopia is Ear Hustle, a podcast made inside San Quentin by and about the men incarcerated there, in collaboration with Nigel Poor. In prison, a letter is a precious thing.

Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/open-me-1. The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. It’s Radiotopia’s annual fundraiser: to keep our shows going, become a supporter (and get some excellent gifts!) at http://radiotopia.fm.

The show’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

]]>From Me To You’s Alison Hitchcock and Brian Greenley didn’t know each other well. But when Brian was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, Alison offered to write him letters. 100 letters later, their lives were changed.
One of the newest members of Radiotopia is Ear Hustle, a podcast made inside San Quentin by and about the men incarcerated there, in collaboration with Nigel Poor. In prison, a letter is a precious thing.
Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/open-me-1. The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. It’s Radiotopia’s annual fundraiser: to keep our shows going, become a supporter (and get some excellent gifts!) at http://radiotopia.fm.
The show’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow. ]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean25:3265. Eponyms III: Who’s That Guy?http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/10/guy/
Sat, 14 Oct 2017 03:51:25 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=524http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/10/guy/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/10/guy/feed/0Roman Mars returns for our annual dose of eponyms – words that derive from people’s names. This year: explosive revelations about the origins of the word ‘guy’. Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/guy. CONTENT NOTE: the episode contains a description of 17th century torture and execution. The show’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/10/guy/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">65. Eponyms III: Who’s That Guy?</span></a>Roman Mars returns for our annual dose of eponyms – words that derive from people’s names. This year: explosive revelations about the origins of the word ‘guy’. Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/guy.

CONTENT NOTE: the episode contains a description of 17th century torture and execution.

The show’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Find all our podcasts at http://radiotopia.fm.

]]>Roman Mars returns for our annual dose of eponyms – words that derive from people’s names. This year: explosive revelations about the origins of the word ‘guy’. Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/guy.
CONTENT NOTE: the episode contains a description of 17th century torture and execution.
The show’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Find all our podcasts at http://radiotopia.fm.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean22:4964. Technobabblehttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/09/technobabble/
Sat, 30 Sep 2017 21:38:48 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=518http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/09/technobabble/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/09/technobabble/feed/0You’ve encountered technobabble when Doc Brown is shouting about flux capacitors in Back To The Future, or when Isaac Asimov writes about positronic brains. Astrophysicist Katie Mack and NASA JPL technologist Manan Arya discuss how science fact relates to science fiction. This episode is a collaboration with Eric Molinsky of Imaginary Worlds; listen to his … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/09/technobabble/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">64. Technobabble</span></a>You’ve encountered technobabble when Doc Brown is shouting about flux capacitors in Back To The Future, or when Isaac Asimov writes about positronic brains. Astrophysicist Katie Mack and NASA JPL technologist Manan Arya discuss how science fact relates to science fiction.

This episode is a collaboration with Eric Molinsky of Imaginary Worlds; listen to his episode about technobabble, featuring ACTUAL HOLLYWOOD TECHNOBABBLERS, at http://imaginaryworldspodcast.org.

The show’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Find all our podcasts at http://radiotopia.fm.

]]>You’ve encountered technobabble when Doc Brown is shouting about flux capacitors in Back To The Future, or when Isaac Asimov writes about positronic brains. Astrophysicist Katie Mack and NASA JPL technologist Manan Arya discuss how science fact relates...
This episode is a collaboration with Eric Molinsky of Imaginary Worlds; listen to his episode about technobabble, featuring ACTUAL HOLLYWOOD TECHNOBABBLERS, at http://imaginaryworldspodcast.org.
The show’s online home is http://theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Find all our podcasts at http://radiotopia.fm.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean24:2063. Evolution of Accentshttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/09/evolution-of-accents/
Fri, 15 Sep 2017 12:51:48 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=484http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/09/evolution-of-accents/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/09/evolution-of-accents/feed/0“Accent is identity. It’s a way of encoding and signaling – almost completely at an unconscious level for most people – who they feel like they are, who they want to be seen as, what group they feel like they belong to.” The podcast Twenty Thousand Hertz investigates how accents have evolved in the UK … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/09/evolution-of-accents/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">63. Evolution of Accents</span></a>“Accent is identity. It’s a way of encoding and signaling – almost completely at an unconscious level for most people – who they feel like they are, who they want to be seen as, what group they feel like they belong to.” The podcast Twenty Thousand Hertz investigates how accents have evolved in the UK and USA.

Hear Twenty Thousand Hertz at http://20k.org and find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/evolution-of-accents.

Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Find all our podcasts at http://radiotopia.fm

]]>“Accent is identity. It’s a way of encoding and signaling – almost completely at an unconscious level for most people – who they feel like they are, who they want to be seen as, what group they feel like they belong to.
Hear Twenty Thousand Hertz at http://20k.org and find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/evolution-of-accents.
Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Find all our podcasts at http://radiotopia.fm]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean25:4962. In Crypt, Decrypthttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/09/lollapuzzoola/
Sat, 02 Sep 2017 17:50:05 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=472http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/09/lollapuzzoola/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/09/lollapuzzoola/feed/0Crossword-solving is often a solitary activity – over breakfast; on the train; on the loo… But a few times a year, crossword puzzle enthusiasts gather in their hundreds to compete to be the fastest, most accurate crossword-solver. This episode comes to you from a church basement on the Upper East Side of New York City, … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/09/lollapuzzoola/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">62. In Crypt, Decrypt</span></a>Crossword-solving is often a solitary activity – over breakfast; on the train; on the loo… But a few times a year, crossword puzzle enthusiasts gather in their hundreds to compete to be the fastest, most accurate crossword-solver. This episode comes to you from a church basement on the Upper East Side of New York City, wherein takes place America’s second largest crossword puzzle tournament: Lollapuzzoola.

For more about this episode, visit http://theallusionist.org/lollapuzzoola.

Come to see the live show at the London Podcast Festival in September; tickets are on sale now at http://kingsplace.co.uk/radiotopia.

Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Find all our podcasts at http://radiotopia.fm, and be a pal and tell us your thoughts about our shows in the annual listener survey: http://surveynerds.com/allusionist.

]]>Crossword-solving is often a solitary activity – over breakfast; on the train; on the loo… But a few times a year, crossword puzzle enthusiasts gather in their hundreds to compete to be the fastest, most accurate crossword-solver.
For more about this episode, visit http://theallusionist.org/lollapuzzoola.
Come to see the live show at the London Podcast Festival in September; tickets are on sale now at http://kingsplace.co.uk/radiotopia.
Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Find all our podcasts at http://radiotopia.fm, and be a pal and tell us your thoughts about our shows in the annual listener survey: http://surveynerds.com/allusionist.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean30:4361. In Your Handhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/08/graphology/
Sat, 19 Aug 2017 11:16:25 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=466http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/08/graphology/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/08/graphology/feed/0“It’s sort of frozen body language; that’s what handwriting analysis is about.” Since it caught on a couple of hundred years ago, graphology – analysing handwriting to deduce characteristics of the writer – has struggled to be taken seriously as a practice. But undoubtedly, there are things about ourselves that we can’t help but reveal … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/08/graphology/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">61. In Your Hand</span></a>“It’s sort of frozen body language; that’s what handwriting analysis is about.”

Since it caught on a couple of hundred years ago, graphology – analysing handwriting to deduce characteristics of the writer – has struggled to be taken seriously as a practice. But undoubtedly, there are things about ourselves that we can’t help but reveal in our handwriting. Graphologist Adam Brand explains the ‘pseudoscience/useful art’.

For more about this episode, visit http://theallusionist.org/graphology.

Come to see the live show at the London Podcast Festival in September; tickets are on sale now at http://kingsplace.co.uk/radiotopia.

Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Find all our podcasts at http://radiotopia.fm, and be a pal and tell us your thoughts about our shows in the annual listener survey: http://surveynerds.com/allusionist.

]]>“It’s sort of frozen body language; that’s what handwriting analysis is about.” Since it caught on a couple of hundred years ago, graphology – analysing handwriting to deduce characteristics of the writer – has struggled to be taken seriously as a prac...
Since it caught on a couple of hundred years ago, graphology – analysing handwriting to deduce characteristics of the writer – has struggled to be taken seriously as a practice. But undoubtedly, there are things about ourselves that we can’t help but reveal in our handwriting. Graphologist Adam Brand explains the ‘pseudoscience/useful art’.
For more about this episode, visit http://theallusionist.org/graphology.
Come to see the live show at the London Podcast Festival in September; tickets are on sale now at http://kingsplace.co.uk/radiotopia.
Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Find all our podcasts at http://radiotopia.fm, and be a pal and tell us your thoughts about our shows in the annual listener survey: http://surveynerds.com/allusionist.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean15:2060. Zillionshttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/08/zillions/
Sat, 05 Aug 2017 22:03:08 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=461http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/08/zillions/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/08/zillions/feed/0They look like numbers. They sound like numbers. You kinda know they are numbers. But they’re not actually numbers. Linguistic anthropologist Stephen Chrisomalis explains what’s going on with indefinite hyperbolic numerals like ‘zillion’, ‘squillion’ and ‘kajillion’. For more about this episode, visit http://theallusionist.org/zillions. Come to see the live show at the London Podcast Festival in … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/08/zillions/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">60. Zillions</span></a>They look like numbers. They sound like numbers. You kinda know they are numbers. But they’re not actually numbers. Linguistic anthropologist Stephen Chrisomalis explains what’s going on with indefinite hyperbolic numerals like ‘zillion’, ‘squillion’ and ‘kajillion’.

For more about this episode, visit http://theallusionist.org/zillions.

Come to see the live show at the London Podcast Festival in September; tickets are on sale now at http://kingsplace.co.uk/radiotopia.

Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Find all our podcasts at http://radiotopia.fm.

]]>They look like numbers. They sound like numbers. You kinda know they are numbers. But they’re not actually numbers. Linguistic anthropologist Stephen Chrisomalis explains what’s going on with indefinite hyperbolic numerals like ‘zillion’,
For more about this episode, visit http://theallusionist.org/zillions.
Come to see the live show at the London Podcast Festival in September; tickets are on sale now at http://kingsplace.co.uk/radiotopia.
Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a collective of the best podcasts on the interwaves. Find all our podcasts at http://radiotopia.fm.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean21:3359. One To Anotherhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/06/translation/
Fri, 30 Jun 2017 22:22:39 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=453http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/06/translation/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/06/translation/feed/0Translation, A Love Story: Translator listens to The Allusionist. Translator hears about the podcast The Memory Palace. Translator listens to The Memory Palace. Translator immediately becomes smitten with The Memory Palace. Translator translates The Memory Palace from English to Brazilian Portuguese, and turns it into a book – O Palácio da Memória – which will … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/06/translation/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">59. One To Another</span></a>Translation, A Love Story:

Translator listens to The Allusionist. Translator hears about the podcast The Memory Palace. Translator listens to The Memory Palace. Translator immediately becomes smitten with The Memory Palace. Translator translates The Memory Palace from English to Brazilian Portuguese, and turns it into a book – O Palácio da Memória – which will be published in Brazil two weeks hence.

Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/translation, and hear The Memory Palace at http://thememorypalace.us.

The Allusionist is on a break during July. There’ll be a new episode out on 4 August; meanwhile, stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow. And come to see the live show at the London Podcast Festival in September.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org. Find all our podcasts at http://radiotopia.fm.

]]>Translation, A Love Story: Translator listens to The Allusionist. Translator hears about the podcast The Memory Palace. Translator listens to The Memory Palace. Translator immediately becomes smitten with The Memory Palace.
Translator listens to The Allusionist. Translator hears about the podcast The Memory Palace. Translator listens to The Memory Palace. Translator immediately becomes smitten with The Memory Palace. Translator translates The Memory Palace from English to Brazilian Portuguese, and turns it into a book – O Palácio da Memória – which will be published in Brazil two weeks hence.
But, like any love story, it’s not quite that simple.
Literary translator Caetano Galindo recounts the trials and treats of turning Nate DiMeo’s English language audio into Brazilian Portuguese text.
Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/translation, and hear The Memory Palace at http://thememorypalace.us.
The Allusionist is on a break during July. There’ll be a new episode out on 4 August; meanwhile, stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow. And come to see the live show at the London Podcast Festival in September.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org. Find all our podcasts at http://radiotopia.fm.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean58. Eclipsehttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/06/eclipse/
Fri, 16 Jun 2017 11:10:47 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=443http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/06/eclipse/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/06/eclipse/feed/0It’s August 2007. Lauren Marks is a 27-year-old actor and a PhD student, spending the month directing a play at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She’s in a bar, standing onstage, performing a karaoke duet of ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’…and then a blood vessel in her brain bursts. When she wakes up in hospital, days … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/06/eclipse/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">58. Eclipse</span></a>It’s August 2007. Lauren Marks is a 27-year-old actor and a PhD student, spending the month directing a play at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She’s in a bar, standing onstage, performing a karaoke duet of ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’…and then a blood vessel in her brain bursts. When she wakes up in hospital, days later, she has no internal monologue, and a vocabulary of only forty words.

Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/eclipse, and more about Lauren at http://astitchoftime.com.

Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org. Find all our shows at http://radiotopia.fm.

]]>It’s August 2007. Lauren Marks is a 27-year-old actor and a PhD student, spending the month directing a play at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She’s in a bar, standing onstage, performing a karaoke duet of ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’…and then a blood ...
Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/eclipse, and more about Lauren at http://astitchoftime.com.
Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org. Find all our shows at http://radiotopia.fm.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean57. AD/BChttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/06/adbc/
Fri, 02 Jun 2017 22:03:35 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=438http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/06/adbc/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/06/adbc/feed/0There’s a small matter I trip over regularly in the Allusionist: Dates. Not the fruit. Specicially, the terms BC and AD, Before Christ and Anno Domini (‘the year of the Lord’ (‘the Lord’ also being Christ)). How did Jesus Christ get to be all up in our system of counting the years? There’s more about … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/06/adbc/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">57. AD/BC</span></a>There’s a small matter I trip over regularly in the Allusionist:
Dates.
Not the fruit.

Specicially, the terms BC and AD, Before Christ and Anno Domini (‘the year of the Lord’ (‘the Lord’ also being Christ)). How did Jesus Christ get to be all up in our system of counting the years?

There’s more about the episode at http://theallusionist.org/abdc. This month, each of the Radiotopia shows is interpreting the theme Doing Time, to welcome the new member of the collective, Ear Hustle. Visit http://radiotopia.fm to hear all the Doing Time episodes, and to subscribe to Ear Hustle – you’ll hear a preview of it at the end of this episode.

Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

]]>There’s a small matter I trip over regularly in the Allusionist: Dates. Not the fruit. Specicially, the terms BC and AD, Before Christ and Anno Domini (‘the year of the Lord’ (‘the Lord’ also being Christ)).
Dates.

Not the fruit.
Specicially, the terms BC and AD, Before Christ and Anno Domini (‘the year of the Lord’ (‘the Lord’ also being Christ)). How did Jesus Christ get to be all up in our system of counting the years?
There’s more about the episode at http://theallusionist.org/abdc. This month, each of the Radiotopia shows is interpreting the theme Doing Time, to welcome the new member of the collective, Ear Hustle. Visit http://radiotopia.fm to hear all the Doing Time episodes, and to subscribe to Ear Hustle – you’ll hear a preview of it at the end of this episode.
Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean22:1356. Joinshttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/05/joins/
Fri, 19 May 2017 20:39:15 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=430http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/05/joins/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/05/joins/feed/0As discussed in episode 51, Under the Covers part II, the vocabulary for sex and associated body parts is tricky to navigate in many ways – but even more so if you are trans or gender non-binary. CONTENT NOTE: this episode contains strong language and frank discussions of sex and bodies. There’s more about the … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/05/joins/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">56. Joins</span></a>As discussed in episode 51, Under the Covers part II, the vocabulary for sex and associated body parts is tricky to navigate in many ways – but even more so if you are trans or gender non-binary.

Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org. Find all our shows at http://radiotopia.fm.

]]>As discussed in episode 51, Under the Covers part II, the vocabulary for sex and associated body parts is tricky to navigate in many ways – but even more so if you are trans or gender non-binary. CONTENT NOTE: this episode contains strong language and ...
CONTENT NOTE: this episode contains strong language and frank discussions of sex and bodies.
There’s more about the episode at http://theallusionist.org/joins.
Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org. Find all our shows at http://radiotopia.fm.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiayes55. Namastehttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/05/namaste/
Fri, 05 May 2017 20:43:20 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=425http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/05/namaste/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/05/namaste/feed/0“You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” Hrishikesh Hirway of Song Exploder wants people to stop saying ‘namaste’ after a yoga session. There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/namaste. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow. The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org. … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/05/namaste/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">55. Namaste</span></a>“You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” Hrishikesh Hirway of Song Exploder wants people to stop saying ‘namaste’ after a yoga session.

There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/namaste.

Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org. Join us for Radiotopia’s live tour of west coast cities this May – http://radiotopia.fm/live.

]]>“You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” Hrishikesh Hirway of Song Exploder wants people to stop saying ‘namaste’ after a yoga session. There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/namaste.
There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/namaste.
Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org. Join us for Radiotopia’s live tour of west coast cities this May – http://radiotopia.fm/live.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean20:0754. The Authorityhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/04/authority/
Fri, 14 Apr 2017 19:01:35 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=420http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/04/authority/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/04/authority/feed/0“Sometimes you want to make the dictionary sexy but it’s just not a sexy thing,” says Kory Stamper, lexicographer for the Merriam-Webster dictionaries. Sorry if this is disillusioning news for you. The dictionary is not a sexy thing, but as Kory explains, it is a fascinating, complicated, exacting thing. There’s more about this episode at … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/04/authority/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">54. The Authority</span></a>“Sometimes you want to make the dictionary sexy but it’s just not a sexy thing,” says Kory Stamper, lexicographer for the Merriam-Webster dictionaries. Sorry if this is disillusioning news for you. The dictionary is not a sexy thing, but as Kory explains, it is a fascinating, complicated, exacting thing.

There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/authority.

Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org. Join us for Radiotopia’s live tour of west coast cities this May – http://radiotopia.fm/live.

]]>“Sometimes you want to make the dictionary sexy but it’s just not a sexy thing,” says Kory Stamper, lexicographer for the Merriam-Webster dictionaries. Sorry if this is disillusioning news for you. The dictionary is not a sexy thing,
There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/authority.
Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org. Join us for Radiotopia’s live tour of west coast cities this May – http://radiotopia.fm/live.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean16:5453. The Away Teamhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/03/migration/
Sat, 01 Apr 2017 00:30:01 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=411http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/03/migration/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/03/migration/feed/0“Recognizing someone’s humanity is crucial. Calling someone a migrant, calling someone an asylum seeker, calling them a refugee: these are official categories. But in many ways, depending on how they use them, they can change and become more negative.” So says propaganda and migration specialist Emma Briant, as she explains the dangers of conflating and … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/03/migration/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">53. The Away Team</span></a>“Recognizing someone’s humanity is crucial. Calling someone a migrant, calling someone an asylum seeker, calling them a refugee: these are official categories. But in many ways, depending on how they use them, they can change and become more negative.”

So says propaganda and migration specialist Emma Briant, as she explains the dangers of conflating and misusing terms like ‘refugee’ and ‘asylum seeker’, while British/Asian/but-kinda-not author Nikesh Shukla wonders where he’s from – where he is really from.

There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/migration.

Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org. Join us for Radiotopia’s live tour of west coast cities this May – http://radiotopia.fm

]]>“Recognizing someone’s humanity is crucial. Calling someone a migrant, calling someone an asylum seeker, calling them a refugee: these are official categories. But in many ways, depending on how they use them, they can change and become more negative.
So says propaganda and migration specialist Emma Briant, as she explains the dangers of conflating and misusing terms like ‘refugee’ and ‘asylum seeker’, while British/Asian/but-kinda-not author Nikesh Shukla wonders where he’s from – where he is really from.
There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/migration.
Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org. Join us for Radiotopia’s live tour of west coast cities this May – http://radiotopia.fm]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean18:3314 rerun: Behavehttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/03/behave-rerun/
Fri, 17 Mar 2017 22:59:16 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=400http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/03/behave-rerun/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/03/behave-rerun/feed/0Sometimes words can become your worst enemy. Clinical psychologist Jane Gregory tells how to defuse their power. There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/behave-rerun. The main part of this episode is a rerun, but there’s new material as well – get ready for a thrill-ride into medieval accounting technology. Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/03/behave-rerun/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">14 rerun: Behave</span></a>Sometimes words can become your worst enemy. Clinical psychologist Jane Gregory tells how to defuse their power. There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/behave-rerun.

The main part of this episode is a rerun, but there’s new material as well – get ready for a thrill-ride into medieval accounting technology.

Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org. Join us for Radiotopia’s live tour of west coast cities this May – http://radiotopia.fm

]]>Sometimes words can become your worst enemy. Clinical psychologist Jane Gregory tells how to defuse their power. There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/behave-rerun. The main part of this episode is a rerun,
The main part of this episode is a rerun, but there’s new material as well – get ready for a thrill-ride into medieval accounting technology.
Stay in touch at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org. Join us for Radiotopia’s live tour of west coast cities this May – http://radiotopia.fm]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean17:5552. Sanctuaryhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/03/sanctuary/
Tue, 07 Mar 2017 20:45:02 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=395http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/03/sanctuary/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/03/sanctuary/feed/0The term ‘sanctuary cities’ has been in the news a lot in the past few weeks, as places in the USA declare themselves to be havens for undocumented immigrants. Though ‘sanctuary’ has a history of meaning safety for the persecuted, it has an even longer history of meaning something quite different: refuge for criminals. Rosalind … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/03/sanctuary/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">52. Sanctuary</span></a>The term ‘sanctuary cities’ has been in the news a lot in the past few weeks, as places in the USA declare themselves to be havens for undocumented immigrants. Though ‘sanctuary’ has a history of meaning safety for the persecuted, it has an even longer history of meaning something quite different: refuge for criminals.

Rosalind Brown, a canon at Durham Cathedral, and historian John Jenkins explain how and why, for 1000 years, churches in England offered shelter to murders and thieves fleeing justice.

For more information about this episode, visit http://theallusionist.org/sanctuary; and listen to the 99% Invisible episodes about the modern sanctuary movement at http://99pi.org.

Find the show at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org.

]]>The term ‘sanctuary cities’ has been in the news a lot in the past few weeks, as places in the USA declare themselves to be havens for undocumented immigrants. Though ‘sanctuary’ has a history of meaning safety for the persecuted,
Rosalind Brown, a canon at Durham Cathedral, and historian John Jenkins explain how and why, for 1000 years, churches in England offered shelter to murders and thieves fleeing justice.
For more information about this episode, visit http://theallusionist.org/sanctuary; and listen to the 99% Invisible episodes about the modern sanctuary movement at http://99pi.org.
Find the show at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean18:4751. Under the Covers – part IIhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/02/covers-ii/
Tue, 21 Feb 2017 15:30:50 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=387http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/02/covers-ii/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/02/covers-ii/feed/0Does the available vocabulary for sex leave something to be desired? Namely desire? (And also the ability to use it wthout laughing/dying of embarrassment?) Aiding in the search for a better sex lexicon – sexicon – are Kaitlin Prest of fellow Radiotopia podcast The Heart, and romance novelist Mhairi McFarlane. CONTENT NOTE: this episode contains … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/02/covers-ii/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">51. Under the Covers – part II</span></a>Does the available vocabulary for sex leave something to be desired? Namely desire? (And also the ability to use it wthout laughing/dying of embarrassment?) Aiding in the search for a better sex lexicon – sexicon – are Kaitlin Prest of fellow Radiotopia podcast The Heart, and romance novelist Mhairi McFarlane.

CONTENT NOTE: this episode contains Sexual Language from the start.

For more information about this episode, visit http://theallusionist.org/covers-ii.

Find the show at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org.

]]>Does the available vocabulary for sex leave something to be desired? Namely desire? (And also the ability to use it wthout laughing/dying of embarrassment?) Aiding in the search for a better sex lexicon – sexicon – are Kaitlin Prest of fellow Radiotopi...
CONTENT NOTE: this episode contains Sexual Language from the start.
For more information about this episode, visit http://theallusionist.org/covers-ii.
Find the show at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiayes18:0950. Under the Covers – part Ihttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/02/covers-i/
Wed, 08 Feb 2017 15:58:28 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=380http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/02/covers-i/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2017/02/covers-i/feed/0Escape into the loving embrace of a romance novel – although don’t think you’ll be able to escape gender politics while you’re in there. Bea and Leah Koch, proprietors of America’s sole romance-only bookstore The Ripped Bodice, consider the genre; and publisher Lisa Milton scrolls through the 109-year history of the imprint that epitomises romance … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2017/02/covers-i/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">50. Under the Covers – part I</span></a>Escape into the loving embrace of a romance novel – although don’t think you’ll be able to escape gender politics while you’re in there. Bea and Leah Koch, proprietors of America’s sole romance-only bookstore The Ripped Bodice, consider the genre; and publisher Lisa Milton scrolls through the 109-year history of the imprint that epitomises romance novels, Mills & Boon.

For more information about this episode, visit http://theallusionist.org/covers-i.

Find me at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org.

]]>Escape into the loving embrace of a romance novel – although don’t think you’ll be able to escape gender politics while you’re in there. Bea and Leah Koch, proprietors of America’s sole romance-only bookstore The Ripped Bodice,
For more information about this episode, visit http://theallusionist.org/covers-i.
Find me at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean19:3049. Bonus 2016http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/12/bonus2016/
Fri, 30 Dec 2016 16:56:42 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=373http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/12/bonus2016/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/12/bonus2016/feed/0Why is gaslighting ‘gaslighting’? What do bodily fluids have to do with personality traits? Why does ‘cataract’ mean a waterfall and an eye condition? And do doctors really say ‘Stat!’ or is that just in ER? To round off 2016, here’s the bonus edition of The Allusionist, featuring listeners’ etymology requests and extra material from … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/12/bonus2016/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">49. Bonus 2016</span></a>Why is gaslighting ‘gaslighting’? What do bodily fluids have to do with personality traits? Why does ‘cataract’ mean a waterfall and an eye condition? And do doctors really say ‘Stat!’ or is that just in ER?

To round off 2016, here’s the bonus edition of The Allusionist, featuring listeners’ etymology requests and extra material from guests who’ve appeared on the show this year. For links and more information about the episode, visit http://theallusionist.org/bonus2016.

The show will return in early February. Meanwhile, catch up on the back catalogue at http://theallusionist.org, and stay in touch at http://facebook.com/allusionistshow and http://twitter.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of http://Radiotopia.fm from http://PRX.org.

]]>Why is gaslighting ‘gaslighting’? What do bodily fluids have to do with personality traits? Why does ‘cataract’ mean a waterfall and an eye condition? And do doctors really say ‘Stat!’ or is that just in ER? To round off 2016,
To round off 2016, here’s the bonus edition of The Allusionist, featuring listeners’ etymology requests and extra material from guests who’ve appeared on the show this year. For links and more information about the episode, visit http://theallusionist.org/bonus2016.
The show will return in early February. Meanwhile, catch up on the back catalogue at http://theallusionist.org, and stay in touch at http://facebook.com/allusionistshow and http://twitter.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of http://Radiotopia.fm from http://PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean20:1348. Wintervalhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/12/winterval/
Tue, 06 Dec 2016 13:26:14 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=366http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/12/winterval/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/12/winterval/feed/0There’s a word that has become shorthand for ‘the war on Christmas’ with a side of ‘political correctness gone mad’: Winterval. It began in November 1998. Newspapers furiously accused Birmingham City Council of renaming Christmas when it ran festive events under the name ‘Winterval’. The council’s then-head of events Mike Chubb explains the true meaning … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/12/winterval/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">48. Winterval</span></a>There’s a word that has become shorthand for ‘the war on Christmas’ with a side of ‘political correctness gone mad’: Winterval.

It began in November 1998. Newspapers furiously accused Birmingham City Council of renaming Christmas when it ran festive events under the name ‘Winterval’. The council’s then-head of events Mike Chubb explains the true meaning of Winterval.

For more information about this episode, visit http://theallusionist.org/winterval.

Find me at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org.

]]>There’s a word that has become shorthand for ‘the war on Christmas’ with a side of ‘political correctness gone mad’: Winterval. It began in November 1998. Newspapers furiously accused Birmingham City Council of renaming Christmas when it ran festive ev...
It began in November 1998. Newspapers furiously accused Birmingham City Council of renaming Christmas when it ran festive events under the name ‘Winterval’. The council’s then-head of events Mike Chubb explains the true meaning of Winterval.
For more information about this episode, visit http://theallusionist.org/winterval.
Find me at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean15:1347. The Year Without a Summerhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/11/frankenstein/
Mon, 21 Nov 2016 18:40:43 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=360http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/11/frankenstein/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/11/frankenstein/feed/0Today: a tale of darkness, gathering storms, and a terrifying creature that resembles a human man… No, nothing topical: it’s The Year Without A Summer, the story of how Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein. This piece first appeared on Eric Molinsky’s excellent podcast Imaginary Worlds. Hear all the episodes at http://imaginaryworldspodcast.org. For more information, visit http://theallusionist.org/frankenstein. … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/11/frankenstein/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">47. The Year Without a Summer</span></a>Today: a tale of darkness, gathering storms, and a terrifying creature that resembles a human man…

No, nothing topical: it’s The Year Without A Summer, the story of how Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein. This piece first appeared on Eric Molinsky’s excellent podcast Imaginary Worlds. Hear all the episodes at http://imaginaryworldspodcast.org.

For more information, visit http://theallusionist.org/frankenstein.

Find me at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org.

]]>Today: a tale of darkness, gathering storms, and a terrifying creature that resembles a human man… No, nothing topical: it’s The Year Without A Summer, the story of how Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein. This piece first appeared on Eric Molinsky’s excel...
No, nothing topical: it’s The Year Without A Summer, the story of how Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein. This piece first appeared on Eric Molinsky’s excellent podcast Imaginary Worlds. Hear all the episodes at http://imaginaryworldspodcast.org.
For more information, visit http://theallusionist.org/frankenstein.
Find me at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean22:4646. The State Of Ithttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/11/state-mottos/
Fri, 04 Nov 2016 13:59:13 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=356http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/11/state-mottos/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/11/state-mottos/feed/0Each of the 50 states in the USA has its own motto. The motto might be found on the state seal, or the state flag; more often than not, it might be in Latin, or Spanish, or Chinook; it might be a phrase or a single word. And if you think you know what yours … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/11/state-mottos/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">46. The State Of It</span></a>Each of the 50 states in the USA has its own motto. The motto might be found on the state seal, or the state flag; more often than not, it might be in Latin, or Spanish, or Chinook; it might be a phrase or a single word. And if you think you know what yours is, check that it is not in fact an advertising slogan.

PRX.org staff reveal their state mottos – or what they thought were their state mottos, until this episode ruined it for them – and how those words have shaped their perception of their state and their selves.

For more information about this episode, visit http://theallusionist.org/state-mottos.

Find me at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org.

]]>Each of the 50 states in the USA has its own motto. The motto might be found on the state seal, or the state flag; more often than not, it might be in Latin, or Spanish, or Chinook; it might be a phrase or a single word.
PRX.org staff reveal their state mottos – or what they thought were their state mottos, until this episode ruined it for them – and how those words have shaped their perception of their state and their selves.
For more information about this episode, visit http://theallusionist.org/state-mottos.
Find me at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean22:1245. Eponyms II: Name That Diseasehttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/10/name-that-disease/
Sun, 16 Oct 2016 23:27:35 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=349http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/10/name-that-disease/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/10/name-that-disease/feed/0If you love eponyms like Roman Mars loves eponyms, I’m afraid physician Isaac Siemens is here to deliver some bad news: medics are ditching them, in favour of terms that a) contain information about what the ailment actually is, and/or b) don’t honour Nazi war criminals. Eponyms are controversial things. The Allusionist is a proud … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/10/name-that-disease/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">45. Eponyms II: Name That Disease</span></a>If you love eponyms like Roman Mars loves eponyms, I’m afraid physician Isaac Siemens is here to deliver some bad news: medics are ditching them, in favour of terms that a) contain information about what the ailment actually is, and/or b) don’t honour Nazi war criminals. Eponyms are controversial things.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, and Radiotopia needs you! This month is our fundraiser. To support independent audio, become a donor at http://radiotopia.fm (you can also get the fundraiser-exclusive Radiotopia challenge coin for your trouble).

Visit http://theallusionist.org/name-that-disease for more information about this episode.

Find me at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

]]>If you love eponyms like Roman Mars loves eponyms, I’m afraid physician Isaac Siemens is here to deliver some bad news: medics are ditching them, in favour of terms that a) contain information about what the ailment actually is,
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, and Radiotopia needs you! This month is our fundraiser. To support independent audio, become a donor at http://radiotopia.fm (you can also get the fundraiser-exclusive Radiotopia challenge coin for your trouble).
Visit http://theallusionist.org/name-that-disease for more information about this episode.
Find me at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean20:4744: This Is Your Brain On Languagehttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/10/brain/
Mon, 03 Oct 2016 09:25:46 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=345http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/10/brain/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/10/brain/feed/0What is your beautiful brain up to as you comprehend language? Cognitive psychologist Jenni Rodd takes a peek. Visit http://theallusionist.org/brain for more information about this topic. Find me at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow. The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org.What is your beautiful brain up to as you comprehend language? Cognitive psychologist Jenni Rodd takes a peek.

Visit http://theallusionist.org/brain for more information about this topic.

Find me at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org.

]]>What is your beautiful brain up to as you comprehend language? Cognitive psychologist Jenni Rodd takes a peek. Visit http://theallusionist.org/brain for more information about this topic. Find me at http://twitter.
Visit http://theallusionist.org/brain for more information about this topic.
Find me at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean15:0143. The Key part II: Vestigeshttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/09/vestiges/
Tue, 20 Sep 2016 19:43:57 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=335http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/09/vestiges/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/09/vestiges/feed/0If you don’t have a Rosetta Stone to hand, deciphering extinct languages can be a real puzzle, even though they didn’t intend to be. They didn’t intend to become extinct, either, but such is the life (and death) of languages. NB: there is a CATEGORY B swear word towards the end of this episode. But … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/09/vestiges/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">43. The Key part II: Vestiges</span></a>If you don’t have a Rosetta Stone to hand, deciphering extinct languages can be a real puzzle, even though they didn’t intend to be. They didn’t intend to become extinct, either, but such is the life (and death) of languages.

NB: there is a CATEGORY B swear word towards the end of this episode. But it IS there for educational purposes only.

ALSO NB: After the episode was released, I was alerted that listener Ryan’s request was about a FAKE Mike Pence statement. I CAN NEVER TRUST YOU AGAIN, RYAN! The etymological content still stands.

There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/vestiges. It is a companion to episode 42: The Key part I: Rosetta, which is at http://theallusionist.org/rosetta.

Find me at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org.

]]>If you don’t have a Rosetta Stone to hand, deciphering extinct languages can be a real puzzle, even though they didn’t intend to be. They didn’t intend to become extinct, either, but such is the life (and death) of languages.
NB: there is a CATEGORY B swear word towards the end of this episode. But it IS there for educational purposes only.
ALSO NB: After the episode was released, I was alerted that listener Ryan’s request was about a FAKE Mike Pence statement. I CAN NEVER TRUST YOU AGAIN, RYAN! The etymological content still stands.
There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/vestiges. It is a companion to episode 42: The Key part I: Rosetta, which is at http://theallusionist.org/rosetta.
Find me at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean17:1042. The Key part I: Rosettahttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/09/rosetta/
Wed, 07 Sep 2016 21:16:47 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=331http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/09/rosetta/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/09/rosetta/feed/0Languages die. But if they’re lucky, a thousand-odd years later, someone unearths an artefact that brings them back to life. Laura Welcher of the Rosetta Project shows us the Rosetta Disk, a slice of electroplated nickel three inches in diameter that bears text in 1500 languages for future linguists to decipher. Ilona Regulski of the … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/09/rosetta/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">42. The Key part I: Rosetta</span></a>Languages die. But if they’re lucky, a thousand-odd years later, someone unearths an artefact that brings them back to life.

Laura Welcher of the Rosetta Project shows us the Rosetta Disk, a slice of electroplated nickel three inches in diameter that bears text in 1500 languages for future linguists to decipher. Ilona Regulski of the British Museum describes how its namesake, the Rosetta Stone, unlocked hieroglyphics.

Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/rosetta. Find me at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org.

]]>Languages die. But if they’re lucky, a thousand-odd years later, someone unearths an artefact that brings them back to life. Laura Welcher of the Rosetta Project shows us the Rosetta Disk, a slice of electroplated nickel three inches in diameter that b...
Laura Welcher of the Rosetta Project shows us the Rosetta Disk, a slice of electroplated nickel three inches in diameter that bears text in 1500 languages for future linguists to decipher. Ilona Regulski of the British Museum describes how its namesake, the Rosetta Stone, unlocked hieroglyphics.
Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/rosetta. Find me at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean16:2741. Getting Toastyhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/08/antarctica/
Sun, 21 Aug 2016 21:48:35 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=319http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/08/antarctica/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/08/antarctica/feed/0When you choose to spend the winter in Antarctica, you’ll be prepared for it to be cold. You know that nobody will be leaving or arriving until springtime. And you’re braced for months of darkness. But a few weeks after the last sunset, you might find you can’t even string a sentence together. And even … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/08/antarctica/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">41. Getting Toasty</span></a>When you choose to spend the winter in Antarctica, you’ll be prepared for it to be cold. You know that nobody will be leaving or arriving until springtime. And you’re braced for months of darkness. But a few weeks after the last sunset, you might find you can’t even string a sentence together. And even if you can, that sentence may only make sense in Antarctica.

To explain why are Antarctica veteran Allison ‘Sandwich’ Barden, endocrinologist Tom Baranski, and astrophysicists Amy Lowitz and Christine Moran, reporting from the South Pole in the depths of winter.

Read more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/antarctica.

Find me at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org.

]]>When you choose to spend the winter in Antarctica, you’ll be prepared for it to be cold. You know that nobody will be leaving or arriving until springtime. And you’re braced for months of darkness. But a few weeks after the last sunset,
To explain why are Antarctica veteran Allison ‘Sandwich’ Barden, endocrinologist Tom Baranski, and astrophysicists Amy Lowitz and Christine Moran, reporting from the South Pole in the depths of winter.
Read more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/antarctica.
Find me at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean19:1340. Olympicshttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/08/olympics/
Fri, 05 Aug 2016 14:26:57 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=315http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/08/olympics/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/08/olympics/feed/0On your marks… Get set… GO! It’s the Etymolympics, where the gymnastics should be gymnaked and the hurdles are a bloodbath. Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/olympics. Be an Olympic-level champ and express your opinions about the show at http://surveynerds.com/allusionist. Seek me out online at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow, and on stage at the … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/08/olympics/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">40. Olympics</span></a>On your marks…
Get set…
GO!

It’s the Etymolympics, where the gymnastics should be gymnaked and the hurdles are a bloodbath. Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/olympics.

Be an Olympic-level champ and express your opinions about the show at http://surveynerds.com/allusionist. Seek me out online at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow, and on stage at the London Podcast Festival – get tickets at http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/spoken-word/the-allusionist.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org.

]]>On your marks… Get set… GO! It’s the Etymolympics, where the gymnastics should be gymnaked and the hurdles are a bloodbath. Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/olympics. Be an Olympic-level champ and express your opinions abou...
Get set…

GO!
It’s the Etymolympics, where the gymnastics should be gymnaked and the hurdles are a bloodbath. Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/olympics.
Be an Olympic-level champ and express your opinions about the show at http://surveynerds.com/allusionist. Seek me out online at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow, and on stage at the London Podcast Festival – get tickets at http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/spoken-word/the-allusionist.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean12:0439. Generation What?http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/07/generation-what/
Wed, 13 Jul 2016 03:21:05 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=302http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/07/generation-what/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/07/generation-what/feed/0Which are you: Millennial, Generation X, Baby Boomer, Silent Generation, an impressively young-looking Arthurian Generation? Or are you an individual who refuses to be labelled? Demographer Neil Howe, author Miranda Sawyer and Megan Tan, the host of Millennial podcast, consider whether the generational names are useful or reductive. Or both. Read more about this episode … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/07/generation-what/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">39. Generation What?</span></a>Which are you: Millennial, Generation X, Baby Boomer, Silent Generation, an impressively young-looking Arthurian Generation? Or are you an individual who refuses to be labelled? Demographer Neil Howe, author Miranda Sawyer and Megan Tan, the host of Millennial podcast, consider whether the generational names are useful or reductive. Or both.

Read more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/generation-what. Seek me out at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org.

]]>Which are you: Millennial, Generation X, Baby Boomer, Silent Generation, an impressively young-looking Arthurian Generation? Or are you an individual who refuses to be labelled? Demographer Neil Howe, author Miranda Sawyer and Megan Tan,
Read more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/generation-what. Seek me out at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean16:3038. Small Talkhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/06/smalltalk/
Sat, 25 Jun 2016 19:03:37 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=295http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/06/smalltalk/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/06/smalltalk/feed/0“How are you?” “Oh, fine – and you?” “Yeah, not bad. Nice day today, isn’t it?” “Yes, it was a bit chilly this morning, but now the sun’s come out…” [Continue until the lift arrives, or until the end of time.] Small talk is usually not conveying much vital information, nor is it especially interesting. … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/06/smalltalk/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">38. Small Talk</span></a>“How are you?”
“Oh, fine – and you?”
“Yeah, not bad. Nice day today, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it was a bit chilly this morning, but now the sun’s come out…” [Continue until the lift arrives, or until the end of time.]

Small talk is usually not conveying much vital information, nor is it especially interesting. But beneath that comfort blanket of tedium lies a valuable social function.

There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/smalltalk. Chitchat with me at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org.

]]>“How are you?” “Oh, fine – and you?” “Yeah, not bad. Nice day today, isn’t it?” “Yes, it was a bit chilly this morning, but now the sun’s come out…” [Continue until the lift arrives, or until the end of time.
“Oh, fine – and you?”

“Yeah, not bad. Nice day today, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it was a bit chilly this morning, but now the sun’s come out…” [Continue until the lift arrives, or until the end of time.]
Small talk is usually not conveying much vital information, nor is it especially interesting. But beneath that comfort blanket of tedium lies a valuable social function.
There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/smalltalk. Chitchat with me at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean15:0112 rerun: Pridehttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/06/pride-rerun/
Tue, 14 Jun 2016 12:43:34 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=291http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/06/pride-rerun/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/06/pride-rerun/feed/0This week seems like a good one to listen again to last year’s episode Pride, about how the word came to be chosen for LGBTQ Pride. Activist and publisher Craig Schoonmaker tells the story. There are full show notes and links to additional material at http://theallusionist.org/pride-rerun. Find me at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow. The Allusionist is … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/06/pride-rerun/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">12 rerun: Pride</span></a>This week seems like a good one to listen again to last year’s episode Pride, about how the word came to be chosen for LGBTQ Pride. Activist and publisher Craig Schoonmaker tells the story.

There are full show notes and links to additional material at http://theallusionist.org/pride-rerun. Find me at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org.

]]>This week seems like a good one to listen again to last year’s episode Pride, about how the word came to be chosen for LGBTQ Pride. Activist and publisher Craig Schoonmaker tells the story. There are full show notes and links to additional material at ...
There are full show notes and links to additional material at http://theallusionist.org/pride-rerun. Find me at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean15:0737. Brand Ithttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/05/brand/
Sun, 29 May 2016 09:10:05 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=284http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/05/brand/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/05/brand/feed/0Got a company or a product or a website you need to name? Well, be wary of the potential pitfalls: trademark disputes; pronounceability; being mistaken for a dead body… Name developer Nancy Friedman explains how she helps companies find the right names, and why so many currently end in ‘-ify’. Plus: The Allusionist’s origin story, … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/05/brand/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">37. Brand It</span></a>Got a company or a product or a website you need to name? Well, be wary of the potential pitfalls: trademark disputes; pronounceability; being mistaken for a dead body… Name developer Nancy Friedman explains how she helps companies find the right names, and why so many currently end in ‘-ify’. Plus: The Allusionist’s origin story, with Radiotopiskipper Roman Mars.

Read Nancy’s excellent blog about naming and trends in the language of commerce at http://nancyfriedman.typepad.com.

There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/brands. Greet me at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org.

]]>Got a company or a product or a website you need to name? Well, be wary of the potential pitfalls: trademark disputes; pronounceability; being mistaken for a dead body… Name developer Nancy Friedman explains how she helps companies find the right names...
Read Nancy’s excellent blog about naming and trends in the language of commerce at http://nancyfriedman.typepad.com.
There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/brands. Greet me at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean21:5836. Big Lithttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/05/biglit/
Tue, 17 May 2016 08:30:14 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=279http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/05/biglit/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/05/biglit/feed/0‘Classics’ started off meaning Latin and Greek works, then works that smacked of similar, and now – what, exactly? Books that are full of bonnets and dust? Author Kevin Smokler and bookseller Jonathan Main unpick what constitutes a classic, old or new. There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/biglit. Announce your favourite classics at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/05/biglit/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">36. Big Lit</span></a>‘Classics’ started off meaning Latin and Greek works, then works that smacked of similar, and now – what, exactly? Books that are full of bonnets and dust? Author Kevin Smokler and bookseller Jonathan Main unpick what constitutes a classic, old or new.

There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/biglit. Announce your favourite classics at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org.

]]>‘Classics’ started off meaning Latin and Greek works, then works that smacked of similar, and now – what, exactly? Books that are full of bonnets and dust? Author Kevin Smokler and bookseller Jonathan Main unpick what constitutes a classic,
There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/biglit. Announce your favourite classics at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean16:0335. Word of the Dayhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/05/word-of-the-day/
Sun, 01 May 2016 06:25:30 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=273http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/05/word-of-the-day/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/05/word-of-the-day/feed/0Open up a dictionary, and you’ll find the history of human behaviour, the key to your own psychological state, and a lot of fun words about cats. Dictionary.com’s Renae Hurlbutt and Jane Solomon lead the way. There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/word-of-the-day. Visit me at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow. The Allusionist is a proud member … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/05/word-of-the-day/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">35. Word of the Day</span></a>Open up a dictionary, and you’ll find the history of human behaviour, the key to your own psychological state, and a lot of fun words about cats. Dictionary.com’s Renae Hurlbutt and Jane Solomon lead the way.

There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/word-of-the-day. Visit me at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org.

]]>Open up a dictionary, and you’ll find the history of human behaviour, the key to your own psychological state, and a lot of fun words about cats. Dictionary.com’s Renae Hurlbutt and Jane Solomon lead the way.
There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/word-of-the-day. Visit me at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean14:5234. Continentalhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/04/continental/
Sun, 17 Apr 2016 03:02:15 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=268http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/04/continental/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/04/continental/feed/0‘Continent’, as in a land mass, is much more complicated semantically than the bodily function control sense of ‘continent’. Plus: more ‘please’, and how ‘thank you’ is not necessarily an expression of gratitude. TL;DR: trust nothing. There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/continental. Visit me at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow. The Allusionist is a proud member … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/04/continental/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">34. Continental</span></a>‘Continent’, as in a land mass, is much more complicated semantically than the bodily function control sense of ‘continent’.

Plus: more ‘please’, and how ‘thank you’ is not necessarily an expression of gratitude.

TL;DR: trust nothing.

There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/continental. Visit me at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org. Radiotopia is having its first ever live show, featuring many of the shows performing new stories at the theatre at Ace Hotel, Los Angeles, 4th May 2016. It’ll be excellent! Get your tickets at http://radiotopia.fm/ace.

]]>‘Continent’, as in a land mass, is much more complicated semantically than the bodily function control sense of ‘continent’. Plus: more ‘please’, and how ‘thank you’ is not necessarily an expression of gratitude. TL;DR: trust nothing.
Plus: more ‘please’, and how ‘thank you’ is not necessarily an expression of gratitude.
TL;DR: trust nothing.
There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/continental. Visit me at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org. Radiotopia is having its first ever live show, featuring many of the shows performing new stories at the theatre at Ace Hotel, Los Angeles, 4th May 2016. It’ll be excellent! Get your tickets at http://radiotopia.fm/ace.]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean16:2133. Pleasehttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/04/please/
Fri, 01 Apr 2016 14:24:50 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=260http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/04/please/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/04/please/feed/0There’s an ocean between Britain and the USA, but an even wider division between each country’s use of a particular word: ‘please’. Linguists Lynne Murphy and Rachele De Felice explain how one nation’s obsequiousness is another nation’s obnoxiousness. There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/please. Please greet me at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow. The Allusionist is … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/04/please/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">33. Please</span></a>There’s an ocean between Britain and the USA, but an even wider division between each country’s use of a particular word: ‘please’.

Linguists Lynne Murphy and Rachele De Felice explain how one nation’s obsequiousness is another nation’s obnoxiousness.

There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/please. Please greet me at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org. Radiotopia is having its first ever live show, featuring many of the shows performing new stories at the theatre at Ace Hotel, Los Angeles, 4th May 2016. It’ll be excellent! Get your tickets at http://radiotopia.fm/ace.

]]>There’s an ocean between Britain and the USA, but an even wider division between each country’s use of a particular word: ‘please’. Linguists Lynne Murphy and Rachele De Felice explain how one nation’s obsequiousness is another nation’s obnoxiousness.
Linguists Lynne Murphy and Rachele De Felice explain how one nation’s obsequiousness is another nation’s obnoxiousness.
There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/please. Please greet me at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm from PRX.org. Radiotopia is having its first ever live show, featuring many of the shows performing new stories at the theatre at Ace Hotel, Los Angeles, 4th May 2016. It’ll be excellent! Get your tickets at http://radiotopia.fm/ace.]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean17:5432. Sohohttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/03/soho/
Fri, 18 Mar 2016 22:51:03 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=253http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/03/soho/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/03/soho/feed/0Around the world, there are several places called Soho, getting their names from an acronym/portmanteau-ish composite of local streets or neighbouring areas. But not the original Soho in London. In fact, London’s place names are an etymological hotchpotch: landmarks present and long gone; 1000-year-old vanity projects; and Cockfosters. This is a companion piece to the … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/03/soho/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">32. Soho</span></a>Around the world, there are several places called Soho, getting their names from an acronym/portmanteau-ish composite of local streets or neighbouring areas. But not the original Soho in London. In fact, London’s place names are an etymological hotchpotch: landmarks present and long gone; 1000-year-old vanity projects; and Cockfosters.

This is a companion piece to the 99% Invisible episode ‘The Soho Effect’: http://99percentinvisible.org/episode/the-soho-effect.

There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/soho. Say ‘soHO!’ at twitter.com/allusionistshow and facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org.

]]>Around the world, there are several places called Soho, getting their names from an acronym/portmanteau-ish composite of local streets or neighbouring areas. But not the original Soho in London. In fact, London’s place names are an etymological hotchpo...
This is a companion piece to the 99% Invisible episode ‘The Soho Effect’: http://99percentinvisible.org/episode/the-soho-effect.
There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/soho. Say ‘soHO!’ at twitter.com/allusionistshow and facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean13:2731. Post-Lovehttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/03/post-love/
Sat, 05 Mar 2016 11:50:58 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=249http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/03/post-love/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/03/post-love/feed/0Breaking up is hard to do, and it’s hard to put into appropriate words. Comedian Rosie Wilby seeks a better term for ‘ex’, and family law barrister Nick Allen runs through the vocabulary of divorce. NOTE: this episode is not full of bawdy talk, but there are adult themes and a couple of category B … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/03/post-love/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">31. Post-Love</span></a>Breaking up is hard to do, and it’s hard to put into appropriate words. Comedian Rosie Wilby seeks a better term for ‘ex’, and family law barrister Nick Allen runs through the vocabulary of divorce.

NOTE: this episode is not full of bawdy talk, but there are adult themes and a couple of category B swearwords.

There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/post-love. Don’t go breaking my heart: say hi at twitter.com/allusionistshow and facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org.

]]>Breaking up is hard to do, and it’s hard to put into appropriate words. Comedian Rosie Wilby seeks a better term for ‘ex’, and family law barrister Nick Allen runs through the vocabulary of divorce. NOTE: this episode is not full of bawdy talk,
NOTE: this episode is not full of bawdy talk, but there are adult themes and a couple of category B swearwords.
There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/post-love. Don’t go breaking my heart: say hi at twitter.com/allusionistshow and facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean18:2930. US Election Lexiconhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/02/us-electionlexicon/
Wed, 17 Feb 2016 22:35:22 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=244http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/02/us-electionlexicon/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/02/us-electionlexicon/feed/0The 2016 US election isn’t going away anytime soon, so let’s seek refuge in etymology. Consider the linguistically appropriate age of a senator, and whether Congress should get sexy. And we revisit the UK Election Lexicon – http://theallusionist.com/electionlexicon – for the origin of words like ‘campaign’, ‘ballot’, ‘democracy’, ‘poll’, ‘debate’ and ‘argue’. There’s more about … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/02/us-electionlexicon/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">30. US Election Lexicon</span></a>The 2016 US election isn’t going away anytime soon, so let’s seek refuge in etymology. Consider the linguistically appropriate age of a senator, and whether Congress should get sexy.

And we revisit the UK Election Lexicon – http://theallusionist.com/electionlexicon – for the origin of words like ‘campaign’, ‘ballot’, ‘democracy’, ‘poll’, ‘debate’ and ‘argue’.

There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/us-electionlexicon. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org. Spot the Radiotopians in this episode.

]]>The 2016 US election isn’t going away anytime soon, so let’s seek refuge in etymology. Consider the linguistically appropriate age of a senator, and whether Congress should get sexy. And we revisit the UK Election Lexicon – http://theallusionist.
And we revisit the UK Election Lexicon – http://theallusionist.com/electionlexicon – for the origin of words like ‘campaign’, ‘ballot’, ‘democracy’, ‘poll’, ‘debate’ and ‘argue’.
There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/us-electionlexicon. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org. Spot the Radiotopians in this episode.]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean18:4229. WLTM part IIhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/02/wltm-ii/
Sat, 06 Feb 2016 00:26:38 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=237http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/02/wltm-ii/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/02/wltm-ii/feed/0You’re looking for your perfect partner, but dating sites keep matching you with duds. So what do you do? Conduct an elaborate linguistic experiment, of course! At least, that was futurist Amy Webb’s response to the situation. But did it work? For full show notes and links, visit http://theallusionist.org/wltm-ii. Hear WLTM part I at http://theallusionist.org/wltm-i. … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/02/wltm-ii/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">29. WLTM part II</span></a>You’re looking for your perfect partner, but dating sites keep matching you with duds. So what do you do? Conduct an elaborate linguistic experiment, of course!

At least, that was futurist Amy Webb’s response to the situation. But did it work?

For full show notes and links, visit http://theallusionist.org/wltm-ii. Hear WLTM part I at http://theallusionist.org/wltm-i.

Say hello at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of http://Radiotopia.fm for http://PRX.org.

]]>You’re looking for your perfect partner, but dating sites keep matching you with duds. So what do you do? Conduct an elaborate linguistic experiment, of course! At least, that was futurist Amy Webb’s response to the situation. But did it work?
At least, that was futurist Amy Webb’s response to the situation. But did it work?
For full show notes and links, visit http://theallusionist.org/wltm-ii. Hear WLTM part I at http://theallusionist.org/wltm-i.
Say hello at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of http://Radiotopia.fm for http://PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean21:5228. WLTM part Ihttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/01/wltm-i/
Thu, 28 Jan 2016 23:32:19 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=231http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/01/wltm-i/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2016/01/wltm-i/feed/0Your online dating profile is the latest spin on a 300-year-old tradition of advertising yourself in order to find a spouse, a sexual partner, or someone to take care of your pigs. Francesca Beauman, author of Shapely Ankle Preferr’d: A History of the Lonely Hearts Ad, digs into lonely hearts ads to see how British … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2016/01/wltm-i/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">28. WLTM part I</span></a>Your online dating profile is the latest spin on a 300-year-old tradition of advertising yourself in order to find a spouse, a sexual partner, or someone to take care of your pigs.

Francesca Beauman, author of Shapely Ankle Preferr’d: A History of the Lonely Hearts Ad, digs into lonely hearts ads to see how British society and desires have evolved over the past three centuries.

For full show notes and links, visit http://theallusionist.org/wltm-i. Say hello at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of http://Radiotopia.fm for http://PRX.org.

]]>Your online dating profile is the latest spin on a 300-year-old tradition of advertising yourself in order to find a spouse, a sexual partner, or someone to take care of your pigs. Francesca Beauman, author of Shapely Ankle Preferr’d: A History of the ...
Francesca Beauman, author of Shapely Ankle Preferr’d: A History of the Lonely Hearts Ad, digs into lonely hearts ads to see how British society and desires have evolved over the past three centuries.
For full show notes and links, visit http://theallusionist.org/wltm-i. Say hello at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of http://Radiotopia.fm for http://PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean21:3027. Bonus 2015http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/12/bonus2015/
Wed, 23 Dec 2015 15:19:07 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=223http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/12/bonus2015/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/12/bonus2015/feed/0For the last episode of 2015, here’s a melange of etymologies requested by listeners, and anecdotes there wasn’t room for in the show earlier this year. We’ve got Klingon! Acid trips! The plural of ‘octopus’! An unwitting cameo from Cliff Richard! Warning: this episode contains references to drugs, sex and genitals, plus some mild swears … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/12/bonus2015/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">27. Bonus 2015</span></a>For the last episode of 2015, here’s a melange of etymologies requested by listeners, and anecdotes there wasn’t room for in the show earlier this year. We’ve got Klingon! Acid trips! The plural of ‘octopus’! An unwitting cameo from Cliff Richard!

Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/bonus2015, and say hello at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow. The show will return on 27th January 2016.

The Allusionist is a proud member of http://Radiotopia.fm for http://PRX.org.

]]>For the last episode of 2015, here’s a melange of etymologies requested by listeners, and anecdotes there wasn’t room for in the show earlier this year. We’ve got Klingon! Acid trips! The plural of ‘octopus’! An unwitting cameo from Cliff Richard!
Warning: this episode contains references to drugs, sex and genitals, plus some mild swears (category B/C).
Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/bonus2015, and say hello at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow. The show will return on 27th January 2016.
The Allusionist is a proud member of http://Radiotopia.fm for http://PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean15:2926. Xmas Manhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/12/christmas/
Wed, 02 Dec 2015 14:51:12 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=214http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/12/christmas/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/12/christmas/feed/0CONTENT WARNING: Be wary of listening to this episode around young children, as there may be life spoilers. Historian Greg Jenner traces the origins of that mythical beardy man who turns up in December with gifts. Helen Zaltzman also ensures her permanent removal from everybody’s Christmas card lists. Read more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/christmas … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/12/christmas/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">26. Xmas Man</span></a>CONTENT WARNING: Be wary of listening to this episode around young children, as there may be life spoilers. Historian Greg Jenner traces the origins of that mythical beardy man who turns up in December with gifts. Helen Zaltzman also ensures her permanent removal from everybody’s Christmas card lists.

Read more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/christmas and say hello at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of http://Radiotopia.fm for http://PRX.org.

]]>CONTENT WARNING: Be wary of listening to this episode around young children, as there may be life spoilers. Historian Greg Jenner traces the origins of that mythical beardy man who turns up in December with gifts.
Read more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/christmas and say hello at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of http://Radiotopia.fm for http://PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean14:4725. Toki Ponahttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/11/tokipona/
Thu, 19 Nov 2015 01:24:48 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=209http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/11/tokipona/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/11/tokipona/feed/0There’s a language which is said to be the smallest language in the world. It has around 123 words, five vowels, nine consonants, and apparently you can become fluent in it with around 30 hours’ study. It was invented by linguist Sonja Lang in 2001, and it’s called Toki Pona. And fellow Radiotopian Nate DiMeo, … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/11/tokipona/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">25. Toki Pona</span></a>There’s a language which is said to be the smallest language in the world. It has around 123 words, five vowels, nine consonants, and apparently you can become fluent in it with around 30 hours’ study. It was invented by linguist Sonja Lang in 2001, and it’s called Toki Pona. And fellow Radiotopian Nate DiMeo, from the Memory Palace, decided we should learn it together.

Find the Memory Palace at http://thememorypalace.us/. Read more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/tokipona and say hello at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of http://Radiotopia.fm for http://PRX.org.

]]>There’s a language which is said to be the smallest language in the world. It has around 123 words, five vowels, nine consonants, and apparently you can become fluent in it with around 30 hours’ study. It was invented by linguist Sonja Lang in 2001,
Find the Memory Palace at http://thememorypalace.us/. Read more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/tokipona and say hello at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of http://Radiotopia.fm for http://PRX.org. ]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean20:2424. Spill Your Gutshttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/11/diaries/
Wed, 04 Nov 2015 16:48:27 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=203http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/11/diaries/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/11/diaries/feed/0It’s cathartic; it’s a useful historical record; and it might help you behave better on public transport. Neil Katcher and Dave Nadelberg from Mortified discuss the art and practice of keeping a diary. Find the Mortified podcast, stage shows, documentary, TV series and books at http://getmortified.com. Roman Mars also stops by to talk about the … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/11/diaries/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">24. Spill Your Guts</span></a>It’s cathartic; it’s a useful historical record; and it might help you behave better on public transport. Neil Katcher and Dave Nadelberg from Mortified discuss the art and practice of keeping a diary.

Find the Mortified podcast, stage shows, documentary, TV series and books at http://getmortified.com.

Roman Mars also stops by to talk about the Radiotopia fundraiser. To support the collective, become a donor at http://on.prx.org/radiotopia-forever.

Read more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/diaries. Say hello at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of http://Radiotopia.fm for http://PRX.org.

]]>It’s cathartic; it’s a useful historical record; and it might help you behave better on public transport. Neil Katcher and Dave Nadelberg from Mortified discuss the art and practice of keeping a diary. Find the Mortified podcast, stage shows,
Find the Mortified podcast, stage shows, documentary, TV series and books at http://getmortified.com.
Roman Mars also stops by to talk about the Radiotopia fundraiser. To support the collective, become a donor at http://on.prx.org/radiotopia-forever.
Read more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/diaries. Say hello at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of http://Radiotopia.fm for http://PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean18:5823. Criminallusionisthttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/10/criminallusionist/
Thu, 29 Oct 2015 00:22:09 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=197http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/10/criminallusionist/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/10/criminallusionist/feed/0Phoebe Judge and Lauren Spohrer from the podcast Criminal stop by to talk about the linguistic challenges of crime reporting. They also share their episode ‘Pants on Fire’, about lying. It’s an extremely useful handbook if you fancy becoming either a human polygraph, or an excellent liar. Radiotopia needs your support. Become a donor at … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/10/criminallusionist/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">23. Criminallusionist</span></a>Phoebe Judge and Lauren Spohrer from the podcast Criminal stop by to talk about the linguistic challenges of crime reporting. They also share their episode ‘Pants on Fire’, about lying. It’s an extremely useful handbook if you fancy becoming either a human polygraph, or an excellent liar.

Radiotopia needs your support. Become a donor at http://on.prx.org/radiotopia-forever.

Find Criminal at http://thisiscriminal.com. Read more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/criminallusionist. Say hello at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of http://Radiotopia.fm for http://PRX.org.

]]>Phoebe Judge and Lauren Spohrer from the podcast Criminal stop by to talk about the linguistic challenges of crime reporting. They also share their episode ‘Pants on Fire’, about lying. It’s an extremely useful handbook if you fancy becoming either a h...
Radiotopia needs your support. Become a donor at http://on.prx.org/radiotopia-forever.
Find Criminal at http://thisiscriminal.com. Read more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/criminallusionist. Say hello at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of http://Radiotopia.fm for http://PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean23:0522. Vocableshttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/10/vocables/
Wed, 21 Oct 2015 20:55:07 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=187http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/10/vocables/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/10/vocables/feed/0La la la, dum di di dum, a wop bop a loo bop a wop bom bom – why are songs riddled with non-words masquerading as words? Hrishikesh Hirway from Song Exploder and songwriter Tony Hazzard explain. Read more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/vocables. Say hello at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow, and find Song Exploder at … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/10/vocables/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">22. Vocables</span></a>La la la, dum di di dum, a wop bop a loo bop a wop bom bom – why are songs riddled with non-words masquerading as words? Hrishikesh Hirway from Song Exploder and songwriter Tony Hazzard explain.

Read more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/vocables. Say hello at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow, and find Song Exploder at http://songexploder.net.

The Allusionist is a proud member of http://Radiotopia.fm for http://PRX.org.

Radiotopia needs your support. Become a donor at http://on.prx.org/radiotopia-forever.

]]>La la la, dum di di dum, a wop bop a loo bop a wop bom bom – why are songs riddled with non-words masquerading as words? Hrishikesh Hirway from Song Exploder and songwriter Tony Hazzard explain. Read more about this episode at http://theallusionist.
Read more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/vocables. Say hello at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow, and find Song Exploder at http://songexploder.net.
The Allusionist is a proud member of http://Radiotopia.fm for http://PRX.org.
Radiotopia needs your support. Become a donor at http://on.prx.org/radiotopia-forever.]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean13:4421. Eponyms I: The Ballad of Bic and Birohttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/10/ballpoint/
Wed, 14 Oct 2015 17:27:50 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=180http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/10/ballpoint/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/10/ballpoint/feed/0Naming something after yourself: a grand display of egomania, or the humble willingness to be overshadowed by your own product? Stationery expert James Ward tells the tale of the people who begat the eponymous ballpoint pens Bic and Biro, because, according to 99% Invisible’s Roman Mars, “When it comes to word origins, an eponym is … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/10/ballpoint/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">21. Eponyms I: The Ballad of Bic and Biro</span></a>Naming something after yourself: a grand display of egomania, or the humble willingness to be overshadowed by your own product? Stationery expert James Ward tells the tale of the people who begat the eponymous ballpoint pens Bic and Biro, because, according to 99% Invisible’s Roman Mars, “When it comes to word origins, an eponym is the shortest bet you’re going to get a good story out of it.”

Read more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/ballpoint. Say hello at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of http://Radiotopia.fm for http://PRX.org.

]]>Naming something after yourself: a grand display of egomania, or the humble willingness to be overshadowed by your own product? Stationery expert James Ward tells the tale of the people who begat the eponymous ballpoint pens Bic and Biro, because,
Read more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/ballpoint. Say hello at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of http://Radiotopia.fm for http://PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean17:5620. Baby Talkhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/10/baby-talk/
Wed, 07 Oct 2015 11:43:10 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=175http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/10/baby-talk/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/10/baby-talk/feed/0Why do we all sound like idiots when we talk to babies? Don’t be embarrassed, we’re helping them acquire language. Child psychologist Ben Jeffes explains. There is more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/baby-talk. Say hello at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow. The Allusionist is a proud member of http://Radiotopia.fm for http://PRX.org.Why do we all sound like idiots when we talk to babies? Don’t be embarrassed, we’re helping them acquire language. Child psychologist Ben Jeffes explains.

There is more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/baby-talk. Say hello at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of http://Radiotopia.fm for http://PRX.org.

]]>Why do we all sound like idiots when we talk to babies? Don’t be embarrassed, we’re helping them acquire language. Child psychologist Ben Jeffes explains. There is more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/baby-talk.
There is more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/baby-talk. Say hello at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of http://Radiotopia.fm for http://PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean11:3719. Architecting About Dancehttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/09/dance/
Thu, 24 Sep 2015 11:11:47 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=169http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/09/dance/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/09/dance/feed/0“Talking about music is like dancing about architecture” is a problematic statement: not just because nobody can agree on who came up with it, but because dancing about architecture doesn’t seem particularly far-fetched. Talking about dance, however – that’s really difficult. How do you put a wordless form of communication into words? Audio describer Alice … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/09/dance/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">19. Architecting About Dance</span></a>“Talking about music is like dancing about architecture” is a problematic statement: not just because nobody can agree on who came up with it, but because dancing about architecture doesn’t seem particularly far-fetched. Talking about dance, however – that’s really difficult. How do you put a wordless form of communication into words?

Audio describer Alice Sanders and choreographer Steven Hoggett take the issue for a twirl.

There is more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/dance. Say hello at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of http://Radiotopia.fm for http://PRX.org.

]]>“Talking about music is like dancing about architecture” is a problematic statement: not just because nobody can agree on who came up with it, but because dancing about architecture doesn’t seem particularly far-fetched. Talking about dance,
Audio describer Alice Sanders and choreographer Steven Hoggett take the issue for a twirl.
There is more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/dance. Say hello at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of http://Radiotopia.fm for http://PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean14:1718. Fix part IIhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/09/fix-ii/
Wed, 09 Sep 2015 07:52:18 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=163http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/09/fix-ii/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/09/fix-ii/feed/0The messiness of English is the price of its success. It is the most widely spoken language in the world, geographically, being an official language in 88 different countries, and there are countless different versions of it all over the world. With so many speakers in so many places, it would be impossible to establish … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/09/fix-ii/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">18. Fix part II</span></a>The messiness of English is the price of its success. It is the most widely spoken language in the world, geographically, being an official language in 88 different countries, and there are countless different versions of it all over the world. With so many speakers in so many places, it would be impossible to establish a single ‘correct’ form of English; and, as became evident in Fix part I, to try to do so is a losing game.

In Europe, a new strain of English is emerging. It’s not spoken very widely, but it is used by some of the most powerful people in the world. Hampton and Michael Catlin, founders of the collaborative online dictionary Wordset, lead us into this linguistic netherworld. Beware: excessive suffixes.

There is more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/fix-ii. Say hello at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of http://Radiotopia.fm for http://PRX.org.

]]>The messiness of English is the price of its success. It is the most widely spoken language in the world, geographically, being an official language in 88 different countries, and there are countless different versions of it all over the world.
In Europe, a new strain of English is emerging. It’s not spoken very widely, but it is used by some of the most powerful people in the world. Hampton and Michael Catlin, founders of the collaborative online dictionary Wordset, lead us into this linguistic netherworld. Beware: excessive suffixes.
There is more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/fix-ii. Say hello at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of http://Radiotopia.fm for http://PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean14:5117. Fix part Ihttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/08/fix-i/
Fri, 28 Aug 2015 07:43:51 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=157http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/08/fix-i/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/08/fix-i/feed/0The English language is a mess. And if you don’t like it, what are you going to do about it – fix it? Good luck with that. In the early 18th century, a movement of grammarians and authors wanted to set up an official authority to regulate English, like French had in the Academie Francaise. … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/08/fix-i/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">17. Fix part I</span></a>The English language is a mess. And if you don’t like it, what are you going to do about it – fix it? Good luck with that.

In the early 18th century, a movement of grammarians and authors wanted to set up an official authority to regulate English, like French had in the Academie Francaise. But is trying to fix a language a good move? Linguists Liv Walsh and Thomas Godard weigh up the evidence.

There is more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/fix-i. Say hello at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of http://Radiotopia.fm for http://PRX.org.

]]>The English language is a mess. And if you don’t like it, what are you going to do about it – fix it? Good luck with that. In the early 18th century, a movement of grammarians and authors wanted to set up an official authority to regulate English,
In the early 18th century, a movement of grammarians and authors wanted to set up an official authority to regulate English, like French had in the Academie Francaise. But is trying to fix a language a good move? Linguists Liv Walsh and Thomas Godard weigh up the evidence.
There is more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/fix-i. Say hello at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of http://Radiotopia.fm for http://PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean16. Word Playhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/08/word-play/
Wed, 12 Aug 2015 12:09:51 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=152http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/08/word-play/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/08/word-play/feed/0Words are all over the place. So how do you turn them into fun games? Here to show the way is Leslie Scott, founder of Oxford Games and inventor of more than forty games – including word games such as Ex Libris, Anagram and Flummoxed, and the non-word game Jenga. There is more about this … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/08/word-play/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">16. Word Play</span></a>Words are all over the place. So how do you turn them into fun games? Here to show the way is Leslie Scott, founder of Oxford Games and inventor of more than forty games – including word games such as Ex Libris, Anagram and Flummoxed, and the non-word game Jenga.

There is more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/word-play.

Tell me about the word games you’ve invented at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of http://Radiotopia.fm for http://PRX.org.

]]>Words are all over the place. So how do you turn them into fun games? Here to show the way is Leslie Scott, founder of Oxford Games and inventor of more than forty games – including word games such as Ex Libris, Anagram and Flummoxed,
There is more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/word-play.
Tell me about the word games you’ve invented at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of http://Radiotopia.fm for http://PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean14:3915. Step Awayhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/07/step/
Wed, 29 Jul 2015 23:43:07 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=145http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/07/step/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/07/step/feed/0‘Step-‘, as in stepparents or stepchildren, originated in grief. Family structures have evolved, but are stepmothers now so tainted by fairytale associations with the word ‘wicked’ that we need new terminology? Lore’s Aaron Mahnke stops by to describe the lovelessness, literary tropes and life expectancy around ‘step-‘. There is more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/step. … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/07/step/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">15. Step Away</span></a>‘Step-‘, as in stepparents or stepchildren, originated in grief. Family structures have evolved, but are stepmothers now so tainted by fairytale associations with the word ‘wicked’ that we need new terminology?

Lore’s Aaron Mahnke stops by to describe the lovelessness, literary tropes and life expectancy around ‘step-‘.

There is more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/step.

Share your feelings about steprelations at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org.

]]>‘Step-‘, as in stepparents or stepchildren, originated in grief. Family structures have evolved, but are stepmothers now so tainted by fairytale associations with the word ‘wicked’ that we need new terminology?
Lore’s Aaron Mahnke stops by to describe the lovelessness, literary tropes and life expectancy around ‘step-‘.
There is more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/step.
Share your feelings about steprelations at http://twitter.com/allusionistshow and http://facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean20:1414. Behavehttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/07/behave/
Wed, 01 Jul 2015 13:08:58 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=141http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/07/behave/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/07/behave/feed/0Sometimes words can become your worst enemy. Clinical psychologist Jane Gregory tells how to defuse their power. There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/behave. This episode concerns mental health, and the discussion nudges some topics which may not be comfortable for everybody. Stay in touch! Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow. The Allusionist is a … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/07/behave/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">14. Behave</span></a>Sometimes words can become your worst enemy. Clinical psychologist Jane Gregory tells how to defuse their power. There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/behave.

This episode concerns mental health, and the discussion nudges some topics which may not be comfortable for everybody.

Stay in touch! Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org.

]]>Sometimes words can become your worst enemy. Clinical psychologist Jane Gregory tells how to defuse their power. There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/behave. This episode concerns mental health,
This episode concerns mental health, and the discussion nudges some topics which may not be comfortable for everybody.
Stay in touch! Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean15:0613. Mixed Emojionshttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/06/emoji/
Wed, 17 Jun 2015 14:43:27 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=135http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/06/emoji/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/06/emoji/feed/0Emoji allow communication without words. Could emoji be the universal language of the 21st century? Matt Gray and Tom Scott, founders of the emoji-only messaging platform emoj.li, talk through the pitfalls; and History Today’s Dr Kate Wiles finds the 500- and 5,000-year-old precedents for emoji. CONTENT WARNING: this episode contains one category B swear word, … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/06/emoji/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">13. Mixed Emojions</span></a>Emoji allow communication without words. Could emoji be the universal language of the 21st century? Matt Gray and Tom Scott, founders of the emoji-only messaging platform emoj.li, talk through the pitfalls; and History Today’s Dr Kate Wiles finds the 500- and 5,000-year-old precedents for emoji.

There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/emoji, including a fine selection of medieval marginalia. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org.

]]>Emoji allow communication without words. Could emoji be the universal language of the 21st century? Matt Gray and Tom Scott, founders of the emoji-only messaging platform emoj.li, talk through the pitfalls; and History Today’s Dr Kate Wiles finds the 5...
CONTENT WARNING: this episode contains one category B swear word, plus reference to penises growing on trees.
There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/emoji, including a fine selection of medieval marginalia. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean16:5412. Pridehttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/06/pride/
Wed, 03 Jun 2015 09:08:06 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=129http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/06/pride/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/06/pride/feed/0“The poison is shame. The antidote is pride.” It’s June; the President of the USA has officially designated it LGBT Pride Month, and there’ll be Pride events around the world. But how did the word ‘pride’ came to be the banner word for demonstrations and celebrations of LGBT rights and culture? There’s more about this … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/06/pride/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">12. Pride</span></a>“The poison is shame. The antidote is pride.”

It’s June; the President of the USA has officially designated it LGBT Pride Month, and there’ll be Pride events around the world. But how did the word ‘pride’ came to be the banner word for demonstrations and celebrations of LGBT rights and culture?

There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/pride. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow.

This episode was produced by me and Eleanor McDowall of Falling Tree, with help from Peregrine Andrews. The music is by Martin Austwick.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org.

]]>“The poison is shame. The antidote is pride.” It’s June; the President of the USA has officially designated it LGBT Pride Month, and there’ll be Pride events around the world. But how did the word ‘pride’ came to be the banner word for demonstrations a...
It’s June; the President of the USA has officially designated it LGBT Pride Month, and there’ll be Pride events around the world. But how did the word ‘pride’ came to be the banner word for demonstrations and celebrations of LGBT rights and culture?
There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/pride. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow.
This episode was produced by me and Eleanor McDowall of Falling Tree, with help from Peregrine Andrews. The music is by Martin Austwick.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean14:0811. Brunchtimehttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/05/brunch/
Wed, 20 May 2015 21:48:03 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=121http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/05/brunch/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/05/brunch/feed/0What does brunch have to do with Lewis Carroll? Fall down the rabbit hole of brunch semantics with Dan Pashman of the Sporkful podcast http://sporkful.com. There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/brunch. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow. The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org.What does brunch have to do with Lewis Carroll? Fall down the rabbit hole of brunch semantics with Dan Pashman of the Sporkful podcast http://sporkful.com.

There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/brunch. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org.

]]>What does brunch have to do with Lewis Carroll? Fall down the rabbit hole of brunch semantics with Dan Pashman of the Sporkful podcast http://sporkful.com. There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/brunch. Tweet @allusionistshow,
There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/brunch. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean12:3910. Election Lexiconhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/05/electionlexicon/
Wed, 06 May 2015 11:48:47 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=117http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/05/electionlexicon/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/05/electionlexicon/feed/0On the eve of the 2015 General Election in the UK, take a jaunt through the etymology of election-related words. Find out why casting a vote should be more like basketball, and why polling is hairy. There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/electionlexicon. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow. Also please air your thoughts about … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/05/electionlexicon/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">10. Election Lexicon</span></a>On the eve of the 2015 General Election in the UK, take a jaunt through the etymology of election-related words. Find out why casting a vote should be more like basketball, and why polling is hairy.

There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/electionlexicon. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow. Also please air your thoughts about podcasts by filling in the Radiotopia survey at surveynerds.com/allusionist.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org.

]]>On the eve of the 2015 General Election in the UK, take a jaunt through the etymology of election-related words. Find out why casting a vote should be more like basketball, and why polling is hairy. There’s more about this episode at http://theallusion...
There’s more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/electionlexicon. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow. Also please air your thoughts about podcasts by filling in the Radiotopia survey at surveynerds.com/allusionist.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean9:019. The Space Betweenhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/04/spaces/
Wed, 22 Apr 2015 22:41:30 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=110http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/04/spaces/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/04/spaces/feed/0I know this is a show about words, but forget the words for a moment; look at the spaces between the words. Without the spaces, the words would be nigh incomprehensible. Dr Kate Wiles explains the history of the space. Visit theallusionist.org/spaces to find out more about this episode. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow. … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/04/spaces/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">9. The Space Between</span></a>I know this is a show about words, but forget the words for a moment; look at the spaces between the words. Without the spaces, the words would be nigh incomprehensible. Dr Kate Wiles explains the history of the space.

Visit theallusionist.org/spaces to find out more about this episode. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow. Also please give us your thoughts about podcasts at surveynerds.com/allusionist.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org.

]]>I know this is a show about words, but forget the words for a moment; look at the spaces between the words. Without the spaces, the words would be nigh incomprehensible. Dr Kate Wiles explains the history of the space. Visit theallusionist.
Visit theallusionist.org/spaces to find out more about this episode. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow. Also please give us your thoughts about podcasts at surveynerds.com/allusionist.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean10:218. Crosswordshttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/04/crosswords/
Wed, 08 Apr 2015 09:38:54 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=105http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/04/crosswords/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/04/crosswords/feed/0Cryptic crosswords: delightful brain exercise, or the infernal taunting of the incomprehensible? Either way, crossword setter John Feetenby explains how they’re made and how to solve them. Visit theallusionist.org/crosswords to find out more about this episode. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow. Also please give us your thoughts about podcasts at surveynerds.com/allusionist. The Allusionist is … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/04/crosswords/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">8. Crosswords</span></a>Cryptic crosswords: delightful brain exercise, or the infernal taunting of the incomprehensible? Either way, crossword setter John Feetenby explains how they’re made and how to solve them.

Visit theallusionist.org/crosswords to find out more about this episode. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow. Also please give us your thoughts about podcasts at surveynerds.com/allusionist.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org.

]]>Cryptic crosswords: delightful brain exercise, or the infernal taunting of the incomprehensible? Either way, crossword setter John Feetenby explains how they’re made and how to solve them. Visit theallusionist.
Visit theallusionist.org/crosswords to find out more about this episode. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow. Also please give us your thoughts about podcasts at surveynerds.com/allusionist.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean16:287. Mountweazelhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/03/mountweazel/
Wed, 25 Mar 2015 18:07:27 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=97http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/03/mountweazel/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/03/mountweazel/feed/0You’d think you could trust dictionaries, but it turns out, they are riddled with LIES. Visit theallusionist.org/mountweazel to find out more about this episode. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow. Also please give us your thoughts about podcasts at surveynerds.com/allusionist The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org.You’d think you could trust dictionaries, but it turns out, they are riddled with LIES.

Visit theallusionist.org/mountweazel to find out more about this episode. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow. Also please give us your thoughts about podcasts at surveynerds.com/allusionist

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org.

]]>You’d think you could trust dictionaries, but it turns out, they are riddled with LIES. Visit theallusionist.org/mountweazel to find out more about this episode. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow.
Visit theallusionist.org/mountweazel to find out more about this episode. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow. Also please give us your thoughts about podcasts at surveynerds.com/allusionist
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean15:266. The Writing On The Wallhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/03/museums/
Wed, 11 Mar 2015 21:49:57 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=91http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/03/museums/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/03/museums/feed/0Those words on museum walls that you can’t be bothered to read? They’re more important than you think… Exhibition-maker Rachel Souhami explains why. Visit theallusionist.org/museums to find out more about this episode. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow. The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org.Those words on museum walls that you can’t be bothered to read? They’re more important than you think…

Exhibition-maker Rachel Souhami explains why.

Visit theallusionist.org/museums to find out more about this episode. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org.

]]>Those words on museum walls that you can’t be bothered to read? They’re more important than you think… Exhibition-maker Rachel Souhami explains why. Visit theallusionist.org/museums to find out more about this episode. Tweet @allusionistshow,
Exhibition-maker Rachel Souhami explains why.
Visit theallusionist.org/museums to find out more about this episode. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean15:145. Latin Lives!http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/02/latin/
Wed, 25 Feb 2015 20:17:44 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=82http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/02/latin/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/02/latin/feed/0Every week since September 1989, a radio station in Finland has broadcast a weekly news bulletin…in Latin. WHY? Let’s find out! Visit theallusionist.org/latin to find out more about this episode. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow. The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org.Every week since September 1989, a radio station in Finland has broadcast a weekly news bulletin…in Latin.

WHY?

Let’s find out!

Visit theallusionist.org/latin to find out more about this episode. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org.

]]>Every week since September 1989, a radio station in Finland has broadcast a weekly news bulletin…in Latin. WHY? Let’s find out! Visit theallusionist.org/latin to find out more about this episode. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.
WHY?
Let’s find out!
Visit theallusionist.org/latin to find out more about this episode. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzmanclean12:134. Detonating the C-Bombhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/02/c-bomb/
Wed, 11 Feb 2015 17:19:38 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=68http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/02/c-bomb/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/02/c-bomb/feed/0WARNING: this episode contains lots of swearing and words which some of you may find offensive. If, however, you love offensive words, you will enjoy this episode, which is all about how the C-word doesn’t deserve to be the pariah of cusses. Visit http://theallusionist.org/viral to find out more about this episode. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/02/c-bomb/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">4. Detonating the C-Bomb</span></a>WARNING: this episode contains lots of swearing and words which some of you may find offensive. If, however, you love offensive words, you will enjoy this episode, which is all about how the C-word doesn’t deserve to be the pariah of cusses.

Visit http://theallusionist.org/viral to find out more about this episode. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow. Subscribe on iTunes http://tinyurl.com/iTunesAllusionist.

The Allusionist is a proud member of http://Radiotopia.fm for http://PRX.org.

]]>WARNING: this episode contains lots of swearing and words which some of you may find offensive. If, however, you love offensive words, you will enjoy this episode, which is all about how the C-word doesn’t deserve to be the pariah of cusses.
Visit http://theallusionist.org/viral to find out more about this episode. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow. Subscribe on iTunes http://tinyurl.com/iTunesAllusionist.
The Allusionist is a proud member of http://Radiotopia.fm for http://PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzmanyes16:583. Going Viralhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/01/viral/
Wed, 28 Jan 2015 17:25:11 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=57http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/01/viral/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/01/viral/feed/0Remember when ‘viral’ used to only mean something bad, IE something that would make you ill or destroy your computer? How things have changed. Tom Phillips from Buzzfeed UK explains the language they choose to make content go viral. Visit http://theallusionist.org/viral to find out more about this episode. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow. The … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/01/viral/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">3. Going Viral</span></a>Remember when ‘viral’ used to only mean something bad, IE something that would make you ill or destroy your computer?

How things have changed. Tom Phillips from Buzzfeed UK explains the language they choose to make content go viral.

Visit http://theallusionist.org/viral to find out more about this episode. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is a proud member of http://Radiotopia.fm for http://PRX.org.

]]>Remember when ‘viral’ used to only mean something bad, IE something that would make you ill or destroy your computer? How things have changed. Tom Phillips from Buzzfeed UK explains the language they choose to make content go viral.
How things have changed. Tom Phillips from Buzzfeed UK explains the language they choose to make content go viral.
Visit http://theallusionist.org/viral to find out more about this episode. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow.
The Allusionist is a proud member of http://Radiotopia.fm for http://PRX.org.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean15:052. Bosom Holderhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/01/bras/
Wed, 14 Jan 2015 12:40:32 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=47http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/01/bras/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/01/bras/feed/0There are many synonyms for ‘underwear’. There are many synonyms for the body parts you keep in your underwear. But there’s only one word for ‘bra’. Visit http://theallusionist.org/bras to find out more about this episode. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at http://facebook.com/allusionistshow. Subscribe on iTunes at http://tinyurl.com/itunesAllusionist. The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/01/bras/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">2. Bosom Holder</span></a>There are many synonyms for ‘underwear’. There are many synonyms for the body parts you keep in your underwear. But there’s only one word for ‘bra’.

Visit http://theallusionist.org/bras to find out more about this episode. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at http://facebook.com/allusionistshow. Subscribe on iTunes at http://tinyurl.com/itunesAllusionist.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.

]]>There are many synonyms for ‘underwear’. There are many synonyms for the body parts you keep in your underwear. But there’s only one word for ‘bra’. Visit http://theallusionist.org/bras to find out more about this episode. Tweet @allusionistshow,
Visit http://theallusionist.org/bras to find out more about this episode. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at http://facebook.com/allusionistshow. Subscribe on iTunes at http://tinyurl.com/itunesAllusionist.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean13:311. Ban The Pun.http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/01/puns/
Wed, 14 Jan 2015 12:28:38 +0000http://allusionist.prx.org/?p=44http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/01/puns/#respondhttp://allusionist.prx.org/2015/01/puns/feed/0In late 2014, China announced it was to ban puns. Helen Zaltzman wishes she could ban puns in her own family. Warning: this episode features some hideous incidences of wordplay. Visit http://theallusionist.org/puns to find out more about this episode. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at http://facebook.com/allusionistshow. Subscribe on iTunes http://tinyurl.com/iTunesAllusionist. Subscribe on iTunes at http://tinyurl.com/itunesAllusionist. The … <a href="http://allusionist.prx.org/2015/01/puns/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">1. Ban The Pun.</span></a>In late 2014, China announced it was to ban puns. Helen Zaltzman wishes she could ban puns in her own family.

Warning: this episode features some hideous incidences of wordplay.

Visit http://theallusionist.org/puns to find out more about this episode. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at http://facebook.com/allusionistshow. Subscribe on iTunes http://tinyurl.com/iTunesAllusionist. Subscribe on iTunes at http://tinyurl.com/itunesAllusionist.

The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.

]]>In late 2014, China announced it was to ban puns. Helen Zaltzman wishes she could ban puns in her own family. Warning: this episode features some hideous incidences of wordplay. Visit http://theallusionist.org/puns to find out more about this episode.
Warning: this episode features some hideous incidences of wordplay.
Visit http://theallusionist.org/puns to find out more about this episode. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at http://facebook.com/allusionistshow. Subscribe on iTunes http://tinyurl.com/iTunesAllusionist. Subscribe on iTunes at http://tinyurl.com/itunesAllusionist.
The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.]]>Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopiaclean16:21